An inflammatory process affecting the kidney. The cause is most often bacterial, but may also be fungal in nature. Signs and symptoms may include fever, chills, flank pain, painful and frequent urination, cloudy or bloody urine, and confusion.
Symptoms of Pyelonephritis
The following features are indicative of Pyelonephritis:
fever
chills
back pain
abdominal pain
nausea
vomiting
frequent urination
pain when urinating
blood in urine
urine that smells bad
It is possible that Pyelonephritis shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.
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Common Causes of Pyelonephritis
The following are the most common causes of Pyelonephritis:
Enterococcus faecalis bacteria
Enterococcus coli bacteria
Risk Factors for Pyelonephritis
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Pyelonephritis:
have urinary tract blockage
being female
have weakened immune system
damage to nerves around the bladder
use of urinary catheter
have vesicoureteral reflux condition
Prevention of Pyelonephritis
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Pyelonephritis. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
drink plenty of fluids especially water
avoid delay of urination
urinate as soon as possible after intercourse
wiping from front to back after urinating
avoid use of feminine products in the genital area
Occurrence of Pyelonephritis
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Pyelonephritis cases seen each year worldwide:
Widely occurring between 500K - 1 Million cases
Common Age Group
Pyelonephritis can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Pyelonephritis can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Pyelonephritis
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Pyelonephritis:
Urine sample test: To test for bacteria, blood or pus in urine
Blood culture test: To check for bacteria in blood
Computed Tomography (CT) scan: To get images of kidneys
Ultrasound: To detect enlargement of the kidney
Complications of Pyelonephritis if untreated
Yes, Pyelonephritis causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Pyelonephritis is left untreated:
chronic kidney disease
high blood pressure
kidney failure
blood poisoning
pregnancy complications
Procedures for Treatment of Pyelonephritis
The following procedures are used to treat Pyelonephritis:
Surgery: To treat disease
Self-care for Pyelonephritis
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Pyelonephritis:
place a heating pad on abdomen
drink plenty of fluids
Patient Support for Treatment of Pyelonephritis
The following actions may help Pyelonephritis patients:
Join online support groups: Conducts programs to give information about disease
Time for Treatment of Pyelonephritis
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Pyelonephritis to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
In 1 - 4 weeks
Is Pyelonephritis Infectious?
Yes, Pyelonephritis is known to be infectious. It can spread across people via the following means:
spread through urinary tract
through bloodstream to kidneys
Last updated date
This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Pyelonephritis.