Kidney Infection Risk Factors

A kidney infection that is medically known as pyelonephritis is a UTI urinary tract infection. This infection starts in your urinary bladder and gradually spreads to one or both of your kidneys.

If you are diagnosed with a kidney infection, then it is essential that you immediately consult with the best Kidney specialist in India for further treatments.  If you do not seek healthcare support to treat the condition at the earliest stages, then the infection may travel to the kidneys and permanently cause chronic damage. Sometimes, the bacteria infection might spread and blend into the bloodstream causing a toxic infection. Your doctor may recommend antibiotics and hospitalization for treating kidney infections. 

Symptoms of Kidney infection

Some of the signs of a kidney infection may include the following symptoms:

• Chills
• Fever
• Pain in the side, back or groin areas
• Urinate frequently 
• Stomach pain 
• Vomiting and nausea 
• Strong urge to urinate persistently 
• Pain or burning sensation while urinating
• Blood or Pus was observed in the urine.
• Urine is cloudy with a bad smell

When to seek Consultation with the doctor

Prevent kidney infection by drinking plenty of fluids, never controlling the urge to urinate, and wiping and keeping your genital areas clean.

If your symptoms are severe and painful in the long term, then it is essential that you check your kidney's health condition with the Best nephrologist in India.

Similarly, if you are already under treatment for urinary tract infections and your symptoms are still not improving, then consult a doctor immediately.

Causes for kidney infection

• Bacteria entering through the urethra into the urinary tract multiply and travel from there to the kidneys and urinary bladder, This could be the most common reason for kidney infections.
• Another less common cause is a bacterial infection from other parts of the body entering into the bloodstream and gradually spreading to the kidneys.  
• Surgery performed on the kidneys or urinary bladder can cause kidney infections. 
• Somethings such as tumors or kidney stones in the urinary tract blocking the flow of urine can cause serious kidney infections.

Medical Tourism Company representing highly qualified Doctors and surgeons can guide you through the treatment process until you restore back those vital kidney functions effectively. 

Kidney Infection Risk Factors

We have discussed a few common factors that may increase kidney infection risk factors:

1. Female

Being female is one of the vital factors that increase your risk of kidney infections.

• The urethra in women is much shorter than in men. This factor gives easy accessibility for bacteria to enter the urinary bladder and spread to the kidneys, causing kidney infections. 
• Since the urethra is located closer to the anus and vagina, it may create an easy entrance of bacteria into the urinary bladder and easily spread to the kidneys. 
• Pregnant women are at high risk of kidney infections. 

2. Blockages in the Urinary tract

The next risk factor for kidney infections is a blockage present in the urinary tract. Any blockages that diminish the urine flow and your capacity to empty your urinary bladder while urinating, can cause serious health issues to your kidneys. Blockages include the abnormal structure of your urinary tract, kidney stones, or an enlarged prostate gland in men. 

3. Weak and unhealthy immune system

Another vital risk factor to consider is weak immunity. 

• Certain health condition such as HIV or diabetes will affect the proper functioning capacity of your immune system and finally damages your kidneys.  
• Drugs and medicines that are prescribed for certain medical issues, may have few toxic properties and cause side-effects of serious infections to your kidneys.

4. Nerve damages

Sometimes, the spinal cord or the nerves in the surrounding areas of the urinary bladder might be damaged. This nerve damage may hinder your sensation of an existing infection in your urinary bladder, which will ultimately spread and affect your kidneys without your knowledge. You will not be able to experience the advancing of chronic kidney infections because of nerve damage. 

5. Urinary catheter

A urinary catheter is a tube inserted into your urinary bladder to drain the stored urine. This is a medical procedure performed as supportive care during and even after certain surgeries and diagnostic examinations and tests are performed. Doctors will recommend continuous urinary catheters to be attached if you are bedridden.

6. Urine reflux

Few health complications such as vesicoureteral reflux cause the urine to flow abnormally on the wrong track. In such conditions, drops of urine flow back into the ureters and kidneys from the urinary bladder. Both adults and children with this issue are at higher risk of getting a kidney infection.

Complications if a kidney infection is not treated 

Top kidney hospitals in India provide international quality Medical services and advanced technology treatment for patients undergoing kidney infections. However, if you are in the risk category, a kidney infection can lead to serious complications such as:

• Poisoning of blood: One of the chief functions of kidneys is to filter toxins from the blood and supply the filtered blood to the rest of your body parts. Kidney infections will make the bacteria-infected blood to be transported through the bloodstream and cause chronic blood poisoning. 
• Kidney scarring: Scarring of the kidneys is a life-threatening infection that can lead to high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease and kidney failures.

Vanya health Medical tourism hosts the largest concentration of kidney specialists Equipped with world-class facilities, they provide patients with perfect kidney health.