Acute Pyelonephritis

What is acute pyelonephritis?

• The kidneys are bean-shaped organs that remove unwanted chemicals and waste from the blood. These wastes are turned into urine by the kidneys. The kidneys are attached to the bladder by little tubes called ureters (u-RE-ters). Urine travels down from the kidneys through the ureters and into the bladder. The bladder is a hollow organ that holds urine. When you urinate, urine travels from the bladder out of the body through a small tube called the urethra (u-REE-thrah). The urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys make up your urinary tract.
  
  
• Acute pyelonephritis (peye-e-loh-ne-FREYE-tis) is a kidney infection that causes inflammation (swelling) in a kidney. The infection may start in a lower place in the urinary tract, such as a bladder infection. The infection then travels up the urinary tract to one or both kidneys.

What causes pyelonephritis?

Germs called bacteria usually cause urinary tract infections (UTI's), including pyelonephritis. Some health conditions can decrease your ability to fight germs, increasing your risk of UTIs. These may include pregnancy, diabetes, cancer, or kidney stones. Having a urinary catheter may also cause a kidney infection. A urinary catheter is a tube that is put into the bladder to drain urine. Sometimes women get a kidney infection when bacteria get in the urethra after sex. You may also get kidney infections if your urinary system is not normal. A kidney infection can become a long-term problem if not treated. A long-term kidney infection may cause kidney failure or other health problems.

What are the signs and symptoms of pyelonephritis?

The signs and symptoms of pyelonephritis may happen very quickly. These may include high body temperature (fever), chills, nausea (upset stomach), and vomiting (throwing up). You may have pain in your abdomen (belly) lower back, or your sides (flank pain). You may need to pass urine often, only pass a little at a time, or not be able to urinate at all. It may hurt or burn when you urinate. You may also have blood in your urine making it look pink or red. You may feel very tired and generally ill.

How is pyelonephritis diagnosed and treated?

A caregiver will examine you and ask about the symptoms you are having. A urine sample will be sent to the lab for tests. You may need to go into the hospital for more tests and treatment. You may need to take one of more of the following medicines:

• Antibiotics: You may be given an antibiotic medicine to help fight your kidney infection. Antibiotics help to kill the germs called bacteria that may cause infections. Always take this medicine as directed by your caregiver. Keep taking your antibiotics until they are gone, unless your caregiver tells you not to.
  
  
• Over-the-counter pain medicine: You may use over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicines, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, for pain or swelling. These medicines may be bought without a caregiver's order. These medicines are safe for most people to use. However, they can cause serious problems when they are not used correctly. People with certain medical conditions, or using certain other medicines are at a higher risk for problems. Using too much, or using these medicines for longer than the label says can also cause problems. Follow directions on the label carefully. If you have questions, talk to your caregiver.
  
  
• Fever medicine: Some OTC medicines used for your pain can also be used to decrease a high body temperature (fever).

How can I decrease my risk of having pyelonephritis in the future?

To decrease your risk of getting another kidney infection, drinks lots of water and urinate often. Keep the area between your legs clean. Wash with soap and water every day. If you are a woman, wipe from front to back after urinating or having a BM. This means that you should wipe away from your urethra and toward your bottom. Women should pass urine soon after having sexual intercourse (sex) to help flush bacteria out of the urethra.

Risks:

Without treatment, kidney infections may cause long-term kidney damage. The infection could spread throughout your body and cause serious problems. You could get high blood pressure if the infection is not treated. You could also get a kidney abscess, which is a pus-filled pocket. Call your caregiver if you are worried or have questions about your medicine or care.

For more information:

Contact the following for more information about pyelonephritis:

• National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
  3 Information Way
  Bethesda , MD 20892-3580
  Phone: 1- 800 - 891-5390
  Web Address: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/
  

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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