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4 Main Things You Need to Know About Pyelonephritis

Pyelonephritis is a kidney illness caused by bacteria that can be acute or chronic. Acute pyelonephritis is a rapid inflammation caused by bacteria that is one of the most frequent kidney disorders. It primarily affects the interstitial space and the renal pelvis, with the renal tubules being affected less frequently.

By Amelia GrantPublished 2 years ago 4 min read
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4 Main Things You Need to Know About Pyelonephritis

Pyelonephritis is a kidney illness caused by bacteria that can be acute or chronic. Acute pyelonephritis is a rapid inflammation caused by bacteria that is one of the most frequent kidney disorders. It primarily affects the interstitial space and the renal pelvis, with the renal tubules being affected less frequently.

Chronic pyelonephritis is a type of chronic kidney inflammation that can cause kidney scarring and eventually lead to chronic renal failure. Patients who are prone to recurrent acute pyelonephritis, such as those with urinary obstructions or vesicoureteral reflux, are more likely to develop this condition.

1. Causes of pyelonephritis

Doctors believe that the bacterial infection that causes pyelonephritis might begin elsewhere in the body and then migrate to the kidney through the circulation. The infection is far more usually caused by germs from outside the body migrating up the urinary stream through the urethra to the bladder and then to the kidneys, which is known as an ascending infection. This could explain why women have four times as many cases of pyelonephritis as men since their urethras are short and close to the anus, a potential source of bacteria.

Reflux is the backward flow of urine that might be caused by an anatomical defect or an obstruction. Instead of a tight valve between the bladder and the ureter, there is a broad opening in the former situation. Urine travels both ways when the bladder contracts during urination, out through the urethra and back up through the ureters. It is difficult to repair the deficiency, and those who have it are at risk of re-infection.

Obstructions that induce reflux in women usually take the form of a stricture, or scar tissue, which develops as a result of infection or inflammation of the urethra. Such strictures occur less frequently in young males and are usually the result of a sexually transmitted infection. The prostate is frequently responsible for obstructing the flow of urine in older men.

The insertion of catheters or tools such as cystoscopes for diagnosis or therapy can also produce reflux. Any foreign body introduced into an obstruction increases the risk of infection, which can be more difficult to cure.

2. Symptoms of pyelonephritis

The symptoms of acute bacterial pyelonephritis are generally the same, regardless of the underlying etiology. The first signs are usually shivering chills, which are followed by a high fever and joint and muscle pain, especially flank pain. The kidneys may receive no attention at all.

The situation can be particularly perplexing in infants, who may experience a seizure or a change in mental state as a result of a high temperature, or in the elderly, who may experience confusion as a result of a fever, or the infection may be concealed by broad aches and pains.

Symptoms of irritable voiding may occur (burning when urinating, a sense of urgency, or increased frequency of urination).

Fever is the initial indication of an acute infection, followed by probable changes in the color of the urine, and then discomfort in the flank. Pain, loss of appetite, headaches, and all the other symptoms of infection grow as the kidney becomes more inflamed. This form of kidney pain is distinct from renal colic pain caused by kidney stones in that it is constant and does not occur in waves, it remains in one location, and it can be made worse by moving around.

While patients with chronic pyelonephritis may experience acute infections, there are times when there are no symptoms or when the symptoms are so minor that they are overlooked. This increases the possibility that the infectious inflammatory illness would advance slowly and unnoticed for many years, eventually leading to kidney failure. As a result, hypertension (high blood pressure), anemia, or indications of renal insufficiency could be the first signs of trouble. Unfortunately, there is a chance that irreversible damage has already occurred.

3. Diagnosis

A medical history will be taken, a physical exam will be performed, and tests such as blood tests and blood cultures, urinalysis and urine culture, and potentially a pelvic ultrasound study will be recommended.

4. Treatment for pyelonephritis

After a urine culture identifies the infecting organism, treatment focuses on antibiotic medication specific to that organism. When the infecting organism cannot be identified, a broad-spectrum antibiotic is frequently used. Symptoms may go away after a few days of antibiotic treatment. Although urine normally becomes sterile in 48 to 72 hours, the treatment takes 21 days to complete.

Patients with serious infections or aggravating conditions should be admitted to the hospital, at least at first. Surgery may be required in some patients to ease blockage or repair an anatomical abnormality.

To rule out reinfection, follow-up treatment entails reculturing the urine many weeks after drug therapy has ended.

Patients at a high risk of recurrent urinary tract and kidney infections, such as those who have used an indwelling (Foley) catheter for an extended period of time, require long-term monitoring.

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About the Creator

Amelia Grant

I am journalist, and blogger.

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