Should I Be Worried If I Have a Kidney Infection?

Although UTIs and bladder infections by themselves aren’t generally serious, they can turn into kidney infections, which can cause serious medical complications when not treated promptly.

Our team at AFC Urgent Care Athens, TN shares some more helpful info on kidney infections below, so keep reading!

How Do I Know If I Have a Kidney Infection?

Kidney infections most often result from an infection in your urinary tract that spreads to one or both kidneys, and the infections can be both sudden and chronic.

We’ve listed some common symptoms below to help you better understand if you are dealing with a kidney infection or not.

Common Kidney Infection Symptoms

  • Pain in your abdomen, back, groin or side
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Frequent urination or the feeling that you have to urinate
  • Burning or pain while urinating
  • Pus or blood in your urine
  • Bad-smelling or cloudy urine
  • Chills
  • Fever

What Causes a Kidney Infection?

The kidneys are essential to our health because they filter waste products out of our blood and into our urine. They also regulate the water and electrolytes contained in your blood.

Kidneys become infected and cause other health complications when bacteria or viruses enter the kidneys from the urinary tract. In fact, one of the most common bacterial causes is Escherichia coli (E. coli). These bacteria are found in the intestine and can enter the urinary tract through the urethra. The bacteria then multiply and spread from there to the bladder and kidneys. We’ve listed a few more potential causes of kidney infections below.

More Causes of Kidney Infections

  • Bacteria from an infection somewhere else in your body, such as from an artificial joint, that spreads through the bloodstream to the kidneys
  • Surgery on the bladder or kidneys
  • Something blocking urine flow, such as a kidney stone or tumor in the urinary tract, an enlarged prostate in men, or a problem with the shape of the urinary tract

If you believe you have a kidney infection, don’t wait to visit our AFC Urgent Care Athens, TN center ASAP!