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Home > Archive > Kidney Failure > October 2004 > Urinary Tract Infections Leading to Kidney infection / signs?
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Urinary Tract Infections Leading to Kidney infection / signs?
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| johnaclark1 2004-10-03, 10:21 pm |
| How long does it usually take for a urinary tract infection to go from the
urethra up to the kidney/s? What are the typical symptoms of a kidney
infection and is there such a thing as a minor infection or is any
infection of the kidney something major?
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| In article
<93b55876d6412106b43368c26a643188@localhost.talkaboutsupport.com>,
"johnaclark1" <johnaclark1@hotmail.com> wrote:
> How long does it usually take for a urinary tract infection to go from the
> urethra up to the kidney/s? What are the typical symptoms of a kidney
> infection and is there such a thing as a minor infection or is any
> infection of the kidney something major?
>
I haven't had a bladder infection since the 1980s, but have recurrent
kidney infections, and am well familiar with the symptoms: hideous flank
pain that forms a 'belt' of pain around the body; nausea and vomiting;
fever; general malaise. Also the urine will be opaque; when I have an
kidney infection, I can't see through it to read the numbers on my seat
collector.
From what I understand, pyelonephritis (infection of the kidney beds)
isn't quite as serious as acute nephritis (infection of the kidneys).
Kidney infections are a serious illness that may require hospitalization
in some patients (those unable or unwilling to take madicine as
presribed; infections that cause acute renal failure).
A urine culture (and sometimes blood tests) can easily determne if a
urinary tract infection is present. Most can be cleared with a course of
oral antibiotics, even in resistant strains (been threre, dong that
now). A follow-up urine dip and culture should be performed after the
antibiotics are finished, especially in patients with recurring
infections or any chronic condition.
Urinary tract infections that start in the urethra and bladder can be
prevented by good hygeine (wiping from front to back after a bowel
movement), good hydration, urinating before and after intercourse and
cranberry juice or pills (which helps keep the urinary tract too acidic
for bacterial overgrowth and helps keep bacteria from 'sticking' to the
bladder walls).
If anyone knows how to prevent recurrent kidney infections that start in
the kidneys, I'd love to hear it! I'm very acidic (pH 4.5) and my
doctors can't figure out exactly why I get so many; my pre-existing
kidney disease/early failure makes me more suseptible, but other than
that, no idea.
--
"Did Father shoot him? I will eat Grandfather for dinner."
- Helen Keller, on learning of the death of her grandfather
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| Pierre 2004-10-03, 10:21 pm |
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"REP" <rep@inanna.com> wrote in message news:2j5fnvFts44eU1@uni-berlin.de...
> In article
> I haven't had a bladder infection since the 1980s, but have recurrent
> kidney infections, and am well familiar with the symptoms: hideous flank
> pain that forms a 'belt' of pain around the body; nausea and vomiting;
> fever; general malaise. Also the urine will be opaque; when I have an
> kidney infection, I can't see through it to read the numbers on my seat
> collector.
>
> From what I understand, pyelonephritis (infection of the kidney beds)
> isn't quite as serious as acute nephritis (infection of the kidneys).
> Kidney infections are a serious illness that may require hospitalization
> in some patients (those unable or unwilling to take madicine as
> presribed; infections that cause acute renal failure).
>
> A urine culture (and sometimes blood tests) can easily determne if a
> urinary tract infection is present. Most can be cleared with a course of
> oral antibiotics, even in resistant strains (been threre, dong that
> now). A follow-up urine dip and culture should be performed after the
> antibiotics are finished, especially in patients with recurring
> infections or any chronic condition.
>
> Urinary tract infections that start in the urethra and bladder can be
> prevented by good hygeine (wiping from front to back after a bowel
> movement), good hydration, urinating before and after intercourse and
> cranberry juice or pills (which helps keep the urinary tract too acidic
> for bacterial overgrowth and helps keep bacteria from 'sticking' to the
> bladder walls).
>
> If anyone knows how to prevent recurrent kidney infections that start in
> the kidneys, I'd love to hear it! I'm very acidic (pH 4.5) and my
> doctors can't figure out exactly why I get so many; my pre-existing
> kidney disease/early failure makes me more suseptible, but other than
> that, no idea.
>
> --
That's a very interesting post. Over the years I've been involved with
online support groups for the kidney disease I have, IgA nephropathy, it
seems to me that UTI's are particularly common. I suspect it's probably
because the urinary tract is already chronically irritated due to the
constant microscopic blood and protein that passes through there.
Pierre
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| In article <Tfgzc.8183$nY.243581@news20.bellglobal.com>,
"Pierre" <pierrot51@hotmail.com> wrote:
> "REP" <rep@inanna.com> wrote in message news:2j5fnvFts44eU1@uni-berlin.de...
>
>
> That's a very interesting post. Over the years I've been involved with
> online support groups for the kidney disease I have, IgA nephropathy, it
> seems to me that UTI's are particularly common. I suspect it's probably
> because the urinary tract is already chronically irritated due to the
> constant microscopic blood and protein that passes through there.
According to my biopsy, I have advanced primary FSGS, very early
diabetic nephropathy and perhaps minimal change disease as well. In
addition, I pass kidney stones every 30-45 days (usually CaOx). My
proteinuria is pretty heavy (20+ grams/day). My kidney infections always
start in the kidneys and I have zero lower tract symtoms; only the upper
tract ones I mentioned above. My biopsy showed 75-100% effacement of the
foot cell process, which I've been told means that the 'lining' of my
kidneys is 'thinning' rather dramatically. It might be possible that,
combined with my inflammatory bowel disease of the small intestine and
my weakened immune system, that bacteria normally present in the body
may have more ready access to my kidneys, which are less able to defend
against their presence. It's a theory, and my doctors thought it was a
good one...
Putting me on prophylactic antibiotics has been ruled out, as I have
become, suddenly and surprisingly, allergic to many and my infections
are becoming more and more resistant. Currently I am being treated with
Macrodantan and Cipro for the infection du jour.
--
"Did Father shoot him? I will eat Grandfather for dinner."
- Helen Keller, on learning of the death of her grandfather
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