Likewise called pyelonephritis, a kidney infection is primarily a type of urinary tract infection and can cause extreme pain. You typically develop a kidney infection when E. coli bacteria spread out from the bladder to one of the kidneys. The pain related to it can be rather severe, which is why many people ask what a kidney infection seems like.
It is important to seek instant medical assistance to prevent any serious complications, such as blood poisoning and kidney damage. You typically have to take antibiotics to clear the infection, but in serious cases, you might need to be hospitalized for a few days.
What Does a Kidney Infection Feel Like?
The seriousness of the infection typically figures out the answer to what a kidney infection seems like. There are specific typical symptoms along with some serious symptoms not experienced by every patient. Here is more about it:
1. Common Symptoms
You usually develop symptoms quite rapidly and experience pain in your side and around your genitals, according to iytmed.com. Other symptoms include chills, high temperature, anorexia nervosa, tiredness, and diarrhea.
2. Added Symptoms with Urethritis or Cystitis
You will experience some extra symptoms when you also have urethritis or cystitis. These symptoms might include blood in urine, frequent urination, burning pain when urinating, and pain in your lower abdominal areas. You may also feel that you are unable to urinate fully.
3. Symptoms in Children
Your child with a kidney infection might likewise have specific symptoms such as irritability, lethargy, abdominal pain, vomiting, jaundice, bedwetting, foul-smelling urine, and sluggish growth.
What Does a Kidney Infection Feel Like When Pregnant
Among the numerous modifications that happen in the body during pregnancy is an increase in the risk of establishing an infection of the urinary tract. The hormone changes along with the physical modifications put in by the enlarging uterus can result in a slowdown of the passage of urine through the urinary tract and even to vesicouteral reflux, a condition in which urine in the bladder backs up, or refluxes, back into the ureters (the tubes that bring urine from the kidneys to the bladder). The hormone progesterone is responsible for changes in action of the smooth muscle walls of the ureters, and the weight of the uterus itself can cause urinary retention. There is even more an expansion of blood volume and increased load on the kidneys in pregnant women, leading to increased urine output in the face of decreased mobility of the ureters. Lastly, pregnant women tend to have greater urinary levels of glucose than nonpregnant women. All these changes predispose to infection within the urinary tract.
As in nonpregnant women, urinary infections can take place in the urethra or bladder or may spread to the kidneys (pyelonephritis). Most of infections come from existing bacteria in the vaginal and anal areas that spread out upward (likewise described retrograde) through the urinary system.
Luckily, urinary infections in pregnancy are readily treatable. Even though pregnant women might be worried about taking prescription medications, there are a number of antibiotics that are effective in dealing with kidney and urinary tract infections that are known to be safe for both mother and baby. Cephalexin, ampicillin, and nitrofurantoin are examples of antibiotics that may be used to treat lower urinary tract infections and cystitis in pregnant women. These medications are taken in tablet or tablet type.
The diagnosis is excellent for many cases of urinary infection in pregnancy. Spread of the infection to the fetus is unusual. Just like any illness, it is essential for the mom to preserve adequate hydration to avoid lowering blood circulation to the uterus during a urinary tract infection. If pyelonephritis (kidney infection) goes neglected, maternal and fetal complications may develop including premature labor and low birth weight, so it is important to seek healthcare when symptoms of a urinary infection are present. Pregnant women need to not wait until the urinary tract infection becomes “worse” or count on alternative treatments to “treat” an infection; they must call their doctor as soon as symptoms occur or even you feel like you have kidney infection for several days.
When to See a Doctor
You need to seek instant medical attention if you experience pain with a high temperature level. See your doctor if there is blood in your urine or you observe uncommon pattern of urination. Also, talk with your doctor if you believe your child might have a kidney infection.
How Other Patients Describe It?
What does a kidney infection feel like? See how different patients explain it:
- “After having convulsions on my lower right side, I have been taking medicines for bladder and kidney infection for rather a long time now. I drink lots of water however my urine is still very yellow in color. I also had a cold last year but it constantly come back again. I have likewise been experiencing pain in legs considering that the last few days and my sleep pattern is all over the place.”
- “I do not simply have a kidney infection however my doctor believes that I have kidney stones too. While I do not have any fever, I have serious pain under my chest that typically radiates to my groin area. It ends up being so hard to breathe when pain ends up being severe. My doctor performed specific tests however found no blood in the urine. There were white blood cells and protein in my urine samples though. It feels as if I have the influenza. My body hurts and I feel upset also.”
- “I am now 40 and have suffered kidney infections twice in my life. I am having it once again. What does a kidney infection seem like? It’s painful, in some cases intolerable. Now, I am experiencing terrible pain near ribs, as well as in lower left and right abdominal area. As of this morning, I have fever, dizziness, queasiness, and irregular urination. There was a burning sensation at the end of urination but that gone away later on, which my doctor informed was not a good idea– it implies the infection has now gone up to my kidneys?”
- ” I started experiencing serious kidney infection symptoms 3 days earlier, however the pain ended up being so even worse that I lastly chose to go to the emergency room. I experienced severe pain when I urinated– the pain and frequent urination continued for two days. The pain was so severe on the third day and there was a lots of blood in my urine, which made me go to the emergency clinic.”
How to Manage the Pain when You Feel Kidney Infection
Now that you understand the answer to your question, “What does a kidney infection feel like?” you may likewise wish to know how to handle the pain and discomfort.
Medical Treatments
Your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection. Your doctor will request urine tests to recognize the type of bacteria present in your urine. This helps them select the most suitable drugs for you. The symptoms and signs of an infection will take a few days to reduce a bit, however you might need to take antibiotics for a week or longer. Make sure to finish the course of antibiotics even if you begin to feel nicer after a few days. In serious cases, you will have to visit the health center. Your doctor will give you antibiotics intravenously to treat your infection.
Lifetime and Home Remedies
You can likewise take some homecare determines to alleviate pain and discomfort. For instance:
- Apply heat on your back, abdominal area, or side to reduce pain and pressure.
- Take painkillers to reduce pain and fever. Take acetaminophen and avoid aspirin.
- Drink a lot of water and other fluids to help remove bacteria from your urinary tract. Do not drink alcohol or coffee however.
Reduce Your Risk of Kidney Infection
What does a kidney infection seem like? Now you know the answers already, but that’s insufficient. You need to take some steps to reduce the risks in the first place:
- Drink plenty of water to help get rid of any bacteria present in your urinary tract.
- Never ever hold the urge to urinate.
- Constantly empty the bladder after you have a sexual intercourse. This will help clear any bacteria present in the urethra, which will reduce your risk of infection.
- Never clean from back to front after using the restroom. In this manner, you will be making it easier for bacteria to enter your urethra.
- Do not use feminine products, such as douches or deodorant sprays in the genital area since they irritate your urethra and make you more vulnerable to infections.
