A kidney infection is termed as ‘Pyelonephritis’ in the medical world. This is a kind of bacterial infection which generally spreads from the lower urinary tract to the upper, from the anus to the urethra and ultimately damages the kidney. The bacteria are a type of E. coli which survive in ones bowel.
This usually happens accidentally during the careless usage of toilets, due to heredity and also during sex. However, in rare cases, bacterial infection in the skin can spread through the bloodstream and can affect both the kidneys. Sometimes kidney infections can lead to life threatening blood infection called sepsis.
However, women are always more prone to UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections) than men as for them the urethra is much shorter and closer to the anus thus make it easy for the bacteria to enter the urethra from the anus readily. As a woman’s estrogen levels decrease with menopause, risk of urinary tract infections increases due to the gradual loss of protective vaginal flora.
Symptoms Of Kidney Infection
People with this kind of infection also have a rising body temperature as well as an increase of exsicosis and intoxication. Burning sensation with urination is a major indicator of such infection thus urinating became extremely troublesome.
Besides cloudy urine, frequent urge to urinate, significant pain while urinating, pain in the pubic bone or in lower back, nausea and vomiting, low blood pressure, also accompany the patients suffering from this disease. Besides it can also develop low appetite, dehydration, flushed, warm or reddened skin from which one can’t generally make out the illness despite just a feeling of unwell. However, occasionally urine may have blood in it or may contain pyuria.
Elderly women though may not have any of the symptoms typically found with kidney infections. Symptoms may vary from mild to severe in case of healthy women. Infections in case of them may last an average of six days.
Pregnancy and the Infection
High level of progesterone extraction during pregnancy aggravates the risk of urinal infection due to decreased muscle tone of the ureters and bladder leading to a greater possibility to reflux. In this case, however there is 25% to 40% of risk of getting infected. A kidney infection during pregnancy may result into premature birth or pre-eclampsia. Thus treatment is highly recommended in case if any signs of infection.
Conditions that create reduced urine flow heighten the risk of kidney infection. Kidney stones thus help the bacteria to travel up to the urethra causing obstruction. Besides, this too contributes to pyelonephritis by providing a place for the bacteria to grow while diminishing the body’s defence system.
Weakened Immune System
Weakened immune system makes it easier to get the body infected. Because of this reason also women are said to take special care during their pregnancy to avoid such sickness.
75-90% of bladder infections are caused by sexual intercourse especially in case of young sexually active women where in case of a post-menopausal women; sexual activity really doesn’t create much risk of developing UTI.
Proper prevention and hygiene is must to get rid of the infection and to stay healthy. Bathing and hygiene maintenance in terms of sanitary napkins, cleaning the genitals and anal areas regularly and of course after sexual activity , urinate before and after intercourse, usage of clean bathrooms are the most recommended practices. Also a woman is advised to avoid wearing tight cloths and use clean underwear, include plenty of fluid in diet and less alcohol and caffeine.