Kidney infections are relatively rare types of infections, but they can cause lots of problems if they go untreated or aren’t treated quickly.

Our AFC Urgent Care Powdersville team provides some further helpful information on kidney infections below, so read on.

What Is a Kidney Infection?

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

A kidney infection requires prompt medical attention and can’t be adequately treated at home. 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. If you experience any of the symptoms we’ve listed below, you likely have a kidney infection.

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’s the Best Way to Prevent Infections?

There is no fool-proof prevention technique, but there are certainly ways to lower your future kidney infection risk—especially for women.

One of the best ways to prevent future kidney infections is by staying adequately hydrated. Because the kidneys filter the blood to remove waste products and excess fluid, drinking lots of water can only help your kidney functions and will work to lower your risk of future infections. We’ve listed some additional common and effective kidney infection prevention techniques below.

Ways to Prevent Kidney Infections

• Drinking plenty of water
• Urinating as soon as you feel the need to do so
• Urinating after sex
• Wiping 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.
• Avoiding the use of deodorant sprays or douches in the genital area

Think you might be dealing with a kidney infection? Our AFC Urgent Care Powdersville team is here for you! Walk in today.