Pyelonephritis

Pyelonephritis General Information

Pyelonephritis is a common infection that is due to the presence of a bacterium. This medical condition can affect one or both of the patient’s kidneys. This clinical condition is known to affect more female patients than male patients. The most common bacterium that is known to trigger this infectious medical disorder is known as Escherichia coli. Female patients who are pregnant are known to undergo an increased risk of developing this infectious clinical illness. This type of clinical infection can be carried away to the individual’s kidneys through the blood stream, from another part of his or her organism.

Individuals who are suffering from diabetes present an increased risk of developing this medical disorder (Pyelonephritis). Furthermore, in their clinical case, the disorder is known to be more severe. The same is for individuals who present a weakened immune system (their organism’s ability to fight away pathogens and infections is abnormally diminished). Although the main cause of this medical disorder is the presence of bacteria, in some rare clinical cases this clinical illness may be triggered by viruses, some types of fungal infections, tuberculosis, and so on.

Some individuals are known to develop a chronic (long-standing) form of this infectious disease. Almost all such patients present severe underlying disorders such as abnormally large kidney stones that do not dissolve, urinary tract obstruction, urine reflux (young children are known to generally present this clinical condition), and so on. In the chronic form of this illness, the pathogen (the bacteria) is released in the individual’s blood stream, infecting other body parts. In some rare clinical cases, the presence of this medical disorder triggers severe, irreparable damage to the patient’s kidneys.

Pyelonephritis Symptoms

The presence of this infectious clinical illness is generally noticed by its initial symptoms. The most common of them include: fever, chills, pain that is located in the lower part of the back (wither on the left or on the right), vomiting and / or nausea, and so on. Approximately 33% of all patients who have been diagnosed with the presence of this infectious medical disorder present symptoms that are commonly associated with the presence of cystitis. They include painful urination, frequent urination, and so on. They also present back tenderness on the affected side. In some cases, the patient’s abdominal muscles are highly contracted. Others present spasms that affect the ureters, that are due to irritation. This is a severe condition that is known as renal colic; it generally triggers severe pain.

Young children who are suffering from Pyelonephritis present less severe symptoms; however, in their case, the condition can be challenging to recognize. Elderly individuals experience symptoms that are not generally associated with a urinary tract disorder. Instead, they are known to experience sepsis (infection of the blood) or delirium. The chronic form of this medical disorder may trigger pain (that is generally characterized as vague), and episodes of fever (that come and go as they please). The list that we have given you here does not contain all the potential symptoms that may be triggered by the presence of this infectious medical condition. We strongly recommend you to ask your personal health care provider for further information regarding this matter. However, if you do experience any of the symptoms or clinical manifestations that we have listed here, it is imperative that you should seek professional advice as soon as possible.

Pyelonephritis Treatment

Most patients who have been diagnosed with the presence of this infectious clinical illness are known to fully recover from their medical disorder. However, if the individual requires hospitalization, he or she presents increased clinical risks of experiencing a delayed recovery and further severe complications. The same for patients who are suffering from a form of this infectious medical disorder that has proven to be resistant to the most common antibiotics that are generally employed in the fight against this disorder and for individual who are suffering from AIDS, diabetes mellitus, certain cancerous medical disorders or any other clinical illnesses that weaken the organism’s ability to fight against pathogens (weakens the patient’s immune system).

The therapy with antibiotic medicines is generally initiated as soon as the physician suspects that the patient is suffering from this infectious illness (Pyelonephritis). The choice of the proper medical product and the adequate dosage that has to be employed will depend on the results of certain laboratory clinical exams (especially on the culture results). The patient’s general health condition, his or her age and personal and family medical history are also a set of very important factors that should be taken into consideration. The therapy with antibiotics is generally effective if the individual with Pyelonephritis does not present any signs of dehydration, vomiting, nausea or similar symptoms, disorders that affect his or her immune system, clinical manifestations that are common to a highly severe (dangerous) infection (confusion, low blood pressure, and so on).

The antibiotic treatment trial against this infectious disorder generally lasts for 2 weeks. In this way, the patient presents diminished chances of experiencing a recurrence of the disease. However, some male patients which presented Pyelonephritis due to a prostate-related disorder may follow a therapy with this drug for 6 weeks. After the medication therapy ends, the patient will have to submit a urine sample in order to see that the infection has been completely removed from his or her system. A surgical procedure is sometimes employed in the treatment against this type of disorder if the patient presents severe structural abnormalities. Most individuals who are suffering from the xanthogranulomatous form of Pyelonephritis may have to undergo a surgical procedure, as they are more prone to experience repeated infections. This type of clinical procedure may also be required if the individual presents the chronic form of this medical disorder. The female patient who is following an antibiotic therapy for any clinical purpose should use an effective birth control method in order to avoid experiencing severe consequences. The most common antibiotics that are employed in the therapy against this medical condition (Pyelonephritis) include: Ciprofloxacin and Levofloxacin, Amoxicillin, Trimethoprim, and so on.