The most common cause of acute kidney infections in children is from a bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI) that has spread from the bladder to the kidneys. The bacteria trigger inflammation and the kidneys respond by producing more urine, which leads to dehydration.
Kidney infections tend to make people much sicker than bladder infections do. A kidney infection is also more serious because it can cause lasting damage if it is not treated quickly. Follow-up care is a key part of your child's treatment and safety.
Most UTIs in children are caused by bacteria from the digestive system entering the urethra.
What causes a kidney infection? Kidney infections are caused by bacteria or viruses. Scientists believe that most kidney infections start as a bladder infection that moves upstream to infect one or both of your kidneys. Most often, the infection is caused by bacteria that normally live in your bowel.
Kidney infections usually start with a bladder infection that spreads to your kidney. Bacteria called E. coli are most often the cause.
The most common cause of acute kidney infections in children is from a bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI) that has spread from the bladder to the kidneys. The bacteria trigger inflammation and the kidneys respond by producing more urine, which leads to dehydration.
If your child is displaying UTI symptoms, it is important to promptly seek professional medical care. If left untreated, the infection can spread beyond the urinary tract and infect the kidneys, causing a condition called pyelonephritis, which necessitates more extensive treatment than a UTI.
A baby with a UTI may have a fever, throw up, or be fussy. Older kids may have a fever, have pain when peeing, need to pee a lot, or have lower belly pain. Kids with UTIs need to see a doctor. These infections won't get better on their own.
Early kidney disease shows few if any signs. Some children show mild puffiness around the eyes and face, or have foamy urine. As the disease progresses, there may be swelling of the eyes and feet, nausea and vomiting, fatigue and loss of appetite, and blood or protein in the urine.
A severe kidney infection can lead to dangerous complications. They may include blood poisoning, damage to the body's tissues or death. Seek medical care right away if you have kidney infection symptoms and bloody urine or nausea and vomiting.
Signs your child has a UTI
Fever (occasionally the only symptom in babies) Foul-smelling, cloudy or blood-tinged urine. Frequent urination, although very little urine may be produced. Fussiness.
There are reports about nephrology problems in adults with COVID-19 infection however, they are rare in children. Knowledge of nephrological problems in children with COVID-19 infection can be useful in preventing and treating kidney damage caused by this virus.
There are 2 ways we test for a UTI, which are a lab test of your child's urine and an ultrasound of your child's kidneys and bladder. For the lab test, we will do a urinalysis and a urine culture. The urinalysis will tell us if there are bacteria in your child's urine.
Children with urinary tract infection should be admitted to hospital if they are less than two months of age, have evidence of urosepsis (e.g., lethargy, difficulty breathing, decreased appetite), are in an immunocompromised state or are vomiting. However, most infants and young children can be treated as outpatients.
Bacteria and other infection-causing microbes may enter the urinary tract when an infant has a dirty diaper or when babies are wiped from back to front. Good hydration enabling frequent urination and maintaining proper hygiene can help prevent UTIs.
A contagious bacterial illness until the child has been on antibiotics for at least 24 hours. Contagious bacterial illnesses include conjunctivitis (pink eye) and strep throat. (Bacterial illnesses such as ear infections and urinary tract infections are not contagious.)
Prolonged or repeated bouts of dehydration can cause urinary tract infections, kidney stones and even kidney failure.
To check for a kidney infection, you may be asked to provide a urine sample to test for bacteria, blood or pus in your urine. Your health care provider might also take a blood sample for a culture. A culture is a lab test that checks for bacteria or other organisms in your blood.
UTIs Vs.
Kidney infections are actually a type of UTI. They typically occur when a lower UTI is left untreated, allowing the bacteria to spread upward and infect the kidneys. Kidney infections are the most serious type of UTI and can cause serious complications without fast and proper treatment.
Most people who are diagnosed and treated promptly with antibiotics feel completely better after about 2 weeks. People who are older or have underlying conditions may take longer to recover. If your symptoms show no sign of improvement 24 hours after treatment starts, contact a GP for advice.
People with kidney disease typically need to follow a low-sodium diet. This means avoiding foods such as salted snacks, cured meats, and processed foods. Some people may also need to manage their intake of potassium and phosphorus.