Pyelonephritis, also known as a kidney infection, is a type of urinary tract infection that starts in the urethra or the urinary bladder and travels up to the kidneys. If left untreated, a kidney infection can become life-threatening. Pyelonephritis needs prompt medical treatment. If not given the bacteria can spread and damage the kidneys. It can even spread to your bloodstream causing complications like shock and sepsis. If you have any signs and symptoms of kidney infection, you should visit a urologist in Lahore.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of kidney infection are:
Persistent urge to urinate
Pain in the flank or groin
Fever
Chills
Abdominal pain
Pain and burning sensation while urinating
Nausea
Vomiting
Blood in the urine-a condition known as hematuria
Pus cell in the urine-a condition known as pyuria
Urine that appears cloudy
Urine has a different and bad smell
When should you see a doctor?
If any signs and symptoms of pyelonephritis occur, you should make an appointment with your health care provider. Do not wait or delay the symptoms as doing that can make your case complicated to treat. If you are already on medications for kidney infection and symptoms do not subside with the treatment, you should consult with your urologist again. You should also attend all the follow-up visits with your health care provider even if you are doing fine. You must seek immediate medical help if you have nausea, vomiting, and blood in the urine.
Causes
The most common cause of pyelonephritis is bacteria. It can invade your kidneys from the urethra- a tube that carries urine out from your urinary bladder to the heart. Rarely it enters your kidneys from some other source. It can occur when you have artificial heart valves or joints that become infected. Sometimes it can also occur post kidney surgeries.
Risk factors
The risk factors for kidney infection can be:
Being a woman
Females are more prone to kidney infections as compared to males. It happens because females have a shorter urethra, due to which the bacteria can enter the body with ease and reach the kidneys. Whereas men have a longer urethra that makes it difficult for bacteria to reach kidneys. Moreover, women have their urethra and anus placed close together as compared to men, who have more distance in between.
The E. Coli bacteria is present in your stool that aids in the digestion of your digestive system. But when it enters the urinary tract, it can cause infection. Therefore the healthcare providers ask you to wipe from front to back and never from back to front. If you wipe from back to front, the chances for a urinary tract infection increase many folds.
Being pregnant
Pregnant women are at more risk of urinary tract infection as compared to non-pregnant. It happens because the weight of the baby exerts pressure on your urinary bladder, due to which you are unable to empty your bladder. When that happens, some urine is left in your urinary bladder that eventually serves as a medium of infection growth.
Blockage in the urinary tract
Having any blockage in your urinary tract can lead to the backflow of urine to your kidneys that raises the chances of infection many folds. Blockage can occur due to kidney stones, or any abnormal growth in your urinary tract. In men, it can occur due to benign prostatic hyperplasia or an enlarged prostate.
Nerve damage
Having any condition due to which your nerves pr spinal cord damage occurs, and you are unable to feel the sensation can put you at risk of pyelonephritis.
When you have no sensations, your body can not sense the symptoms of bladder infection that can eventually lead to kidney infection.
Urinary catheter
The urinary catheter is a tube that is inserted into your bladder to collect urine outside of your body. It is done during surgeries or when you are confined to bed and can not go to the bathroom on your own. Through the catheter, the bacteria can travel from outside to the inside of your body right into the urinary tract with ease.
Prevention
The following tips can help prevent urinary tract infections, especially for women.
Drink plenty of fluids, especially water.
Incorporate cranberry juice into your routine.
Wipe from front to back instead of back to front.
Urinate after having sex.
Avoid using feminine products such as douches, powders, and deodorants.
Condoms and certain birth control methods can lead to bacterial growth. Therefore, try changing it if any certain method causes repeated urinary tract infection.
Conclusion
Urinating tract infections often occur due to bacterial growth. If left untreated, it can lead to complications. Therefore, you should attend follow-up visits with your healthcare provider. For that, you can visit the urologist in Karachi.
