Antibiotics are the first line of treatment for kidney infections. The drugs used and the length of time of the treatment depend on your health and the bacteria found in your urine tests. Symptoms of a kidney infection often begin to clear up within a few days of treatment.
You'll have regular blood and urine tests to monitor your health and how effectively the antibiotics are fighting off the infection. Most people respond well to treatment. As long as there are no complications, you should typically be well enough to leave hospital in 3 to 7 days.
A health care professional may use imaging tests, such as a computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasound, to help diagnose a kidney infection. A technician performs these tests in an outpatient center or a hospital. A technician may perform an ultrasound in a doctor's office as well.
If you are very sick from your kidney infection, you may go to a hospital for bed rest. A health care professional may give you fluids through an IV. If something such as a kidney stone or an enlarged prostate is blocking your urinary tract, a doctor can sometimes treat the problem with surgery or another procedure.
Seek care right away. Seek care right away if you have kidney infection symptoms. A kidney infection can sometimes lead to a dangerous condition called sepsis link, which can be life threatening. Symptoms of sepsis include fever, chills, rapid breathing and heart rate, rash, and confusion.
You can feel feverish, shivery, sick and have a pain in your back or side. In addition to feeling unwell like this, you may also have symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) such as cystitis. These include: needing to pee suddenly or more often than usual.
You should contact your GP if your kidney infection symptoms get worse or don't start to get better within 48 hours (two days) of starting the antibiotic.
A kidney infection usually starts out as a urinary tract infection (UTI) that affects the bladder. There's no rule for how long it takes a UTI to spread from your bladder to your kidneys. For a mild kidney infection, treatment can last 7 to 14 days.
Your doctor can determine if you have a UTI or a kidney infection by reviewing your symptoms, analyzing a urine sample, and ordering certain blood tests. They may also order imaging studies or other tests to monitor your kidney function. UTIs and kidney infections are treated with antibiotics.
Sometimes, kidney infections can lead to life-threatening complications, especially in people with a weakened immune system or other underlying health issues. These include: Emphysematous pyelonephritis. This is a condition where bacteria start destroying parts of your kidneys and create gas.
A kidney infection can start off similar to a UTI, but then it gets more severe. Kidney infection symptoms include fever, pain in your back or side, and weakness. Other infections, like sexually transmitted infections, can feel similar to a UTI — but the treatments are different.
Our bodies use water to flush out any bacteria. If you're dehydrated, the bacteria in your body is more likely to clump together and multiply, causing infections. Your ER doctor may administer IV fluids directly into the bloodstream to help get rid of that pesky bacteria in a more timely manner.
If left untreated, a kidney infection can lead to potentially serious complications, such as: Kidney scarring. This can lead to chronic kidney disease, high blood pressure and kidney failure. Blood poisoning.
When bacteria or viruses get into your kidneys, usually through your urinary tract, they can cause a kidney infection. If you have symptoms such as pain in the sides of your lower back, fever, chills or pain while urinating (i.e., peeing), contact your doctor right away.
Acute UTI in people with diabetes or who are immunocompromised: should expect to feel better after 7 seven to 14 days of antibiotics. Mild kidney infection: 7 seven to 14 days of antibiotics. Severe kidney infection: may take 14 days of antibiotics or longer and could require hospitalization.
If treated promptly, a kidney infection shouldn't cause serious harm. If you experience a fever over 101°F, pain, are unable to drink or take oral medication along with some of the other symptoms, get to the nearest urgent care or ER.
Get emergency care if you have sudden, serious kidney pain, with or without blood in your urine.
Kidney disease can help cause sepsis. People on dialysis have a vascular access site under their skin and inside a blood vessel.
How long can you leave a UTI untreated? You shouldn't leave a UTI untreated for an entire week. It's recommended for healthy adult women to receive treatment after at least two days. Try and visit AFC Aurora Saddle Rock or your primary care physician as soon as you notice the symptoms of a UTI.
When to see your GP. See your GP if you have a fever and persistent tummy, lower back or genital pain, or if you notice a change to your usual pattern of urination. Most kidney infections need prompt treatment with antibiotics to stop the infection from damaging the kidneys or spreading to the bloodstream.
You have symptoms that a kidney infection is getting worse. These may include: Pain or burning when you urinate. A frequent need to urinate without being able to pass much urine.
“If there is fever, rapidly spreading redness, rapid heart rate, or extraordinary pain that is disproportionate to the wound or injury, that is when you tell the patient to visit the hospital,” he said.