Kidney infection
Kidney infection or pyelonephritis is an infection of the kidneys, which can cause symptoms such as the appearance of blood or pus in the urine. Kidney infections are often caused by previous bladder infections.
Kidney infections are more risky for women than men. In addition, existing urinary tract abnormalities also make a person more susceptible to kidney infections. To treat kidney infections, hospitalization is usually not necessary unless the patient is a child, dehydrated or suffering from sepsis.
Symptoms of kidney infection
Symptoms of kidney infection usually appear two days after infection. The following symptoms occur in patients with kidney infections:
Symptoms of kidney infection can also be accompanied by symptoms of other urinary tract infections, such as pain or burning sensation during urination, more frequent urination, or difficulty urinating.
Parents and children with kidney infections sometimes have no obvious symptoms. In older people, kidney infections can cause sensory disorders, such as looking confused and talking in an irregular way. Whereas in children, this condition can make children difficult and enuresis.
When to see a doctor
Check with your doctor right away if you have symptoms of urinary tract infections, such as pain and heat during urination, and urine that is cloudy or reddish in color. Untreated urinary tract infections can develop into kidney infections.
Perform a new examination at the doctor, urinary tract infections have been treated, but his condition did not improve.
Poorly treated kidney infections can turn into life-threatening sepsis. Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms of sepsis occur, such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or problems with awareness.
Urinary catheter users may also have kidney infections, especially if the catheter still needs to be installed after returning home. Perform routine checks at the doctor to anticipate the risk of kidney infection.
Causes of kidney infection
Most kidney infections are caused by bacterial infections. Aside from bacteria, kidney infections can also be caused by viral or fungal infections, although both are rare.
Bacteria responsible for kidney infections usually originate from the digestive tract, which comes out with feces, then enter the urinary tract and multiply in the bladder, then spread in the kidneys.
Usually, bacteria that enter early are eliminated by urine, so there is no infection. However, under certain conditions, these bacteria multiply in the urinary tract until they eventually spread to the kidneys.
Risk Factors for Kidney Infection
Several factors can increase the risk of urinary tract infections, including kidney infections, namely:
Some medical procedures can also increase the risk of kidney infection, including medical procedures that place certain devices in the urine, such as cystoscopy. In addition, long-term use of catheters for urine can also increase the risk of kidney infection.
Diagnosis of kidney infection
To diagnose kidney infection, the doctor will ask about the patient's symptoms and history. In addition, the doctor will conduct a physical examination, including checking the patient's body temperature and blood pressure. After that, the doctor can carry out complementary examinations including:
Urine test
The doctor will take a urine sample to be examined in the laboratory. Urine tests are done to detect kidney and urinary tract infections and to determine the type of bacteria that causes the infection.
scanning
The urinary tract scanner with a scanner and ultrasound aims to detect kidney organ health problems. Through digitalization, doctors can determine the severity of kidney infections in their patients.
Treatment of kidney infections
Antibiotics are the most important treatment for kidney infections. Antibiotics that are generally given are ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin. The antibiotic given is cephalexin, especially for pregnant women.
To relieve pain and fever, doctors will usually give paracetamol. In addition, so that recovery takes place well and quickly, do the following things at home:
Hospitalization at the hospital
Sometimes hospitalization is needed to treat kidney infections. The doctor will recommend hospitalization if:
In addition to the above conditions, treatment at the hospital may be needed if:
Complications due to kidney infection
The following are some of the complications that can occur after a kidney infection:
Prevention of kidney infections
Kidney infection can be prevented by avoiding risk factors. Possible ways are:
Kidney infections are more risky for women than men. In addition, existing urinary tract abnormalities also make a person more susceptible to kidney infections. To treat kidney infections, hospitalization is usually not necessary unless the patient is a child, dehydrated or suffering from sepsis.
Symptoms of kidney infection usually appear two days after infection. The following symptoms occur in patients with kidney infections:
- The presence of blood or pus in the urine. The smell of urine is not as usual
- Low back pain or low back pain
- fever
- happy
- transmission
- No appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
Symptoms of kidney infection can also be accompanied by symptoms of other urinary tract infections, such as pain or burning sensation during urination, more frequent urination, or difficulty urinating.
Parents and children with kidney infections sometimes have no obvious symptoms. In older people, kidney infections can cause sensory disorders, such as looking confused and talking in an irregular way. Whereas in children, this condition can make children difficult and enuresis.
When to see a doctor
Check with your doctor right away if you have symptoms of urinary tract infections, such as pain and heat during urination, and urine that is cloudy or reddish in color. Untreated urinary tract infections can develop into kidney infections.
Perform a new examination at the doctor, urinary tract infections have been treated, but his condition did not improve.
Poorly treated kidney infections can turn into life-threatening sepsis. Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms of sepsis occur, such as palpitations, shortness of breath, or problems with awareness.
Urinary catheter users may also have kidney infections, especially if the catheter still needs to be installed after returning home. Perform routine checks at the doctor to anticipate the risk of kidney infection.
Causes of kidney infection
Most kidney infections are caused by bacterial infections. Aside from bacteria, kidney infections can also be caused by viral or fungal infections, although both are rare.
Bacteria responsible for kidney infections usually originate from the digestive tract, which comes out with feces, then enter the urinary tract and multiply in the bladder, then spread in the kidneys.
Usually, bacteria that enter early are eliminated by urine, so there is no infection. However, under certain conditions, these bacteria multiply in the urinary tract until they eventually spread to the kidneys.
Risk Factors for Kidney Infection
Several factors can increase the risk of urinary tract infections, including kidney infections, namely:
- Female gender
- Sexually active. Sexual activity can irritate the urinary tract and facilitate the entry of bacteria into the bladder.
- Having anal sex. This sexual behavior facilitates the entry of bacteria into the anus in the urinary tract.
- Pregnancy, because physical changes during pregnancy slow down the flow of urine, so that bacteria can easily spread to kidney organs.
- Urinary tract deformity.
- Urinary tract obstruction, for example due to swelling of the prostate.
- Constipation is common, especially in children.
- Having a weak immune system, for example due to HIV / AIDS or the side effects of chemotherapy drugs.
- Suffer from prostatitis, which is an infection of the prostate that can spread to the kidneys.
- Damage to nerves around the bladder. This disease prevents the patient from knowing that he has a urinary tract infection, until the infection spreads to the kidneys.
- Suffer from diseases that make urination difficult (urinary retention), such as multiple sclerosis or spina bifida.
Some medical procedures can also increase the risk of kidney infection, including medical procedures that place certain devices in the urine, such as cystoscopy. In addition, long-term use of catheters for urine can also increase the risk of kidney infection.
Diagnosis of kidney infection
To diagnose kidney infection, the doctor will ask about the patient's symptoms and history. In addition, the doctor will conduct a physical examination, including checking the patient's body temperature and blood pressure. After that, the doctor can carry out complementary examinations including:
Urine test
The doctor will take a urine sample to be examined in the laboratory. Urine tests are done to detect kidney and urinary tract infections and to determine the type of bacteria that causes the infection.
scanning
The urinary tract scanner with a scanner and ultrasound aims to detect kidney organ health problems. Through digitalization, doctors can determine the severity of kidney infections in their patients.
Treatment of kidney infections
Antibiotics are the most important treatment for kidney infections. Antibiotics that are generally given are ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin. The antibiotic given is cephalexin, especially for pregnant women.
To relieve pain and fever, doctors will usually give paracetamol. In addition, so that recovery takes place well and quickly, do the following things at home:
- Drink lots of water to get rid of bacteria from the kidneys and prevent dehydration.
- Use a warm pillow on the stomach, back or waist to reduce pain.
- Especially in patients, do not urinate squat, but rather sit on the toilet, so that the bladder emptying is better.
Hospitalization at the hospital
Sometimes hospitalization is needed to treat kidney infections. The doctor will recommend hospitalization if:
- Kidney infections occur in children.
- Kidney infection is very serious and requires administration of antibiotics by infusion.
- Kidney infection reappears (recurring).
- Kidney infections occur in men, because this condition is rare in men. Hospital assessment is needed to determine the cause of infection.
In addition to the above conditions, treatment at the hospital may be needed if:
- The condition did not improve the day after taking antibiotics.
- Can not swallow food, drinks and medicines.
- Dehydration.
- Are pregnant and have a fever of more than 39 ° C
- Patients over 65 years old.
- Suffers from chronic diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease or liver disease.
- Having severe pain in the waist or stomach.
- Symptoms of immediate sepsis.
Complications due to kidney infection
The following are some of the complications that can occur after a kidney infection:
- Kidney abscess
- This condition occurs when pus appears in kidney tissue. Kidney abscess can be fatal because bacteria or pus can spread to other parts of the body, for example in the blood or lungs.
- blood poisoning
- Sepsis occurs when an infection has spread to the bloodstream. This complication can be fatal because bacteria in the blood can spread to vital organs such as the heart, brain and lungs.
- Renal insufficiency
- Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys cannot function normally due to damage to kidney cells. This kidney damage can be temporary or permanent.
- Complications during pregnancy
- Pregnant women with kidney infections are at risk of experiencing dangerous complications. If left untreated, kidney infections in pregnant women can cause premature birth or low birth weight in infants.
Prevention of kidney infections
Kidney infection can be prevented by avoiding risk factors. Possible ways are:
- Diluted drinking water so that urine can always be produced regularly so that bacteria in the urinary tract can be wasted periodically.
- Get used to urinate after intercourse, so bacteria that enter the urinary tract wasted.
- Do not hold or delay urination. If you want to urinate, go to the toilet immediately.
- Do not use skin care products or cosmetics on the genitals to avoid irritations that can trigger infections.
- Especially for women, clean the genitals by rubbing back and forth to prevent the spread of bacteria from the rectum to the genitals.
0 Response to "Kidney infection"
Post a Comment