Not only are kidney infections uncomfortable to experience, but they can cause some severe health complications when not dealt with properly.

Additionally, kidney infections are rare, but anyone can get one. Our AFC Urgent Care South Charlotte provides some further information below.

What Is a Kidney Infection?

A kidney infection, or pyelonephritis, is a type of urinary tract infection that generally begins in your urethra or bladder and travels to one or both of your kidneys.

A kidney infection requires prompt medical attention. If not treated properly, a kidney infection can permanently damage your kidneys, or the bacteria can spread to your bloodstream and cause a life-threatening infection. We’ve listed some common symptoms to watch out for below.

Kidney Infection Symptoms

• Fever
• Chills
• Back or side pain
• Groin pain
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Frequent urination
• Urine that’s cloudy, smells bad or contains blood

What Usually Causes Them?

A kidney infection usually happens when bacteria get into the urethra and travel up through the bladder and into the kidneys. Oftentimes, this is caused by a lingering bladder infection or UTI that has gone untreated or has not been treated properly.

For those that have weakened immune systems, a kidney infection can develop if bacteria or fungi have infected the skin and traveled through the bloodstream and into the kidneys, but this is rare. We’ve listed a few easy ways you can avoid future kidney infections below!

Ways to Prevent Kidney Infections

• Drink plenty of water.
• Urinate as soon as you feel the need to do so.
• Urinate after intercourse.
• Wipe from front to back after going to the bathroom if you are a woman. This helps to keep bacteria from the vagina from getting into the urethra.
• Avoid using deodorant sprays or douches in the genital area.

If you have any other infection-related questions or need general medical care, don’t hesitate to visit us at AFC Urgent Care South Charlotte today.