Kidney Infection
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Known medically as pyelonephritis (PI-low-nef-RI-tis),
kidney infections usually start in the bladder. If your
resistance is low, germs from the bladder can travel up the
tubes (ureters) that lead to the kidneys, take up residence,
and multiply. An acute kidney infection starts suddenly with
severe symptoms, then quickly comes to an end. A chronic kidney
infection develops slowly, grows steadily worse, and hangs on.
The chronic variety can lead to kidney
failure.
Causes
Conditions such as pregnancy, diabetes, cancer, kidney
stones, and abnormalities of the urinary tract can lower your
ability to fight off the bacteria that cause kidney infections.
Foley catheters (tubes inserted through the urethra to drain
the bladder) can also lead to infection if left in place for
extended periods. Women sometimes contract kidney infections
when bacteria get into the urinary tract following
sex.
Signs/Symptoms
Usually symptoms come on very fast. They include fever,
chills, pain, upset stomach, low back pain, vomiting, a
constant need to urinate or an inability to urinate at all,
blood in the urine, and pain or a burning sensation during
urination.
Care
The doctor will send a sample of your urine to a lab for
tests. Whether you need to be hospitalized or not depends on
how sick you are. Either way you will need to take antibiotic
medicine to fight the infection. If this is an ongoing problem,
you may need additional tests to find the
cause.
Risks
Without care, you may get repeated kidney infections and
even kidney failure. The infection could also spread to other
parts of your body and cause worse problems.
IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE
HOSPITAL...
What to Expect While You're
There
You may encounter the following procedures and equipment
during your stay:
-
Taking Vital Signs: These include your temperature,
blood pressure, pulse (counting your heartbeats), and
respirations (counting your breaths). A stethoscope is used
to listen to your heart and lungs. Your blood pressure is
taken by wrapping a cuff around your arm.
-
Pulse Oximeter: With a little clip connected to your
ear, finger, or toe, this machine measures the oxygen in
your blood.
-
Blood Tests: You may need blood taken for tests. It
can be drawn from a vein in your hand or from the bend in
your elbow. Several samples may be needed.
-
IV: A tube placed in your vein for giving medicine
or liquids. It will be capped or have tubing connected to
it.
-
Strict Intake/Output: Your doctor may need to know
the amount of liquid you are taking in versus the amount
you lose in your urine. This is often called an
"I&O."
-
Unless told otherwise, drink
6 to 8 large glasses of water each day. Keep a record of
exactly how much liquid you drink.
-
Your output of urine may have
to be measured. Ask your doctor whether it's OK to use the
toilet.
-
Antibiotics: You'll need antibiotics to fight the
infection. They can be given by IV, as shots, or by
mouth.
-
Other Medicines: Your doctor can prescribe medicine
for pain. If it upsets your stomach, you may also need
anti-nausea drugs. If the pain won't go away or comes back,
be sure to let the doctor know.
-
Clear Liquid Diet: Even if you're unable to eat
solid food, you may be able to drink water, broth, or apple
juice. And you can suck on ice chips or eat gelatin.
-
IVP: An IVP, also called an intravenous pyelogram
(PI-uh-lo-GRAM), is an x-ray of the kidneys, bladder, and
ureters. To make them show up better in the picture, a
special dye is usually injected into your bloodstream.
People who are allergic to shellfish may also be allergic
to this dye. Be sure to warn your doctor if you have such
an allergy.
-
Abdominal Ultrasound: This painless test uses sound
waves to create a view of the organs inside the abdomen.
The pictures show up on a TV-like screen.
-
Cystoscopy (sis-TOSS-kuh-pee): For this examination,
the doctor will thread a cystoscope (a long tube with a
magnifying glass and light on the end) into your urethra
and up into the bladder. This scope is sometimes hooked up
to a camera. It can reveal the presence of kidney stones,
and can be used to take tissue samples for tests. During
the exam, the doctor also can remove small tumors or stop
any bleeding that's found.
-
Surgery: If your doctor finds a blockage in one of
the ureters, you may need to have an operation. A blocked
ureter can cause repeated kidney infections.
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