Kidney Infection Symptoms

What Are The Signs Of A Kidney Infection?

Kidney infection symptoms depend on the type of kidney infection you have. Generally speaking, there are two types: acute kidney infections and chronic kidney infections.

Acute kidney infection symptoms can appear quickly, but then go away after the infection clears. Acute kidney infection symptoms are likely to include

• severe pain in the area of the lower back that is sometimes described as the "flank,"
• feverish chills,
• nausea and vomiting,
• a change in the appearance of urine, which will become cloudy, dark or tinged with blood,
• urine may also have a foul, unpleasant smell
• weakness and fatigue

A type of kidney infection known as acute glomerulonephritis typically occurs after a strep infection in your respiratory tract. Certain skin infection, particularly impetigo, may sometimes precede a kidney infection too.

Chronic kidney infections, on the other hand, rarely present symptoms until they have reached a dangerous stage. A chronic kidney infection can be in progress for 20 years before any signs or symptoms appear. Chronic kidney infections are especially dangerous because they can cause enormous damage before you even know you have one, and the loss of kidney function can be so dramatic that kidney failure becomes a very real danger.

Even though kidney infection symptoms may not be obvious, you can sometimes anticipate a kidney problem because infections often occur after other illnesses and diseases. For instance, if you have pneumonia, hepatitis, measles, malaria syphilis, you are at higher risk for developing a kidney infection.

A type of kidney infection known as pyelonephritis often results from a bacterial infection of some kind. These infections tend to start in the bladder and then migrate up to the kidneys through the ureters. Bladder infections are usually caused by fecal germs that get into the bladder through the genitals. Tumors, stagnant urine due to backflow from the bladder, abnormal prostate growth, diabetes mellitus, kidney stones, trauma, scars from previous infections, or even pregnancy are among the other possible causes. 

Sometimes, systemic problems or structural problems in the kidneys will cause an infection. Someone with low resistance is more likely to get a kidney infection than someone with a healthy immune system.

Keep in mind that kidney infection symptoms resemble symptoms of other diseases and disorders, and may sometimes be difficult to diagnose. Severe back pain in the flank area is usually a reliable sign that a kidney problem is in progress. But other typical kidney infection symptoms may be more difficult to identify. Of course, as mentioned above, chronic kidney infection symptoms may not appear at all for years, making it advisable to get regular, thorough physical exams that include kidney function tests.

Learn more about the dangers of kidney disease by clicking on the book cover below or

The Kidney Disease Solution