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What Are Symptoms Of Kidney Infection?

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Posted on Tue, 7 Oct 2014
Question: What are the symptoms of a kidney infection
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Answered by Dr. Manuel C See IV (9 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
flank pain, fever and chills and pain on urination

Detailed Answer:
Good Day and thank you for being with Healthcare Magic!

Kidney infection usually presents with flank pain, fever and chills, and pain on urination. Kidney infection is medically called Pyelonephritis and is usually a sequelae of an untreated or severe urinary tract infection (UTI). The bacteria usually ascends through the tube called the ureter thereby causing kidney infection. This can be diagnosed by doing a urinalysis to check for UTI. An ultrasound of the kidneys and urinary bladder should also be done to rule out other causes of kidney infection or pain (e.g. kidney stones, renal abscess)

On Physical examination, the medical examiner will do a kidney punch to illicit flank tenderness or Costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness to confirm pyelonephritis. Treatment is through antibiotics depending on the severity of the disease. Mild pyelonephritis can be treated at home with oral antibiotics while severe forms needs to be admitted in the hospital for close monitoring and IV antibiotics.

I hope I have succeeded in providing the information you were looking for. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications at: http://www.HealthcareMagic.com/doctors/dr-manuel-c-see-iv/66014 I would gladly help you. Best wishes.

Regards,

Manuel C. See IV, M.D. DPBU FPUA

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Follow up: Dr. Manuel C See IV (3 minutes later)
I have the flank pain, but no fever or chills or aches. Is there something I can do to relieve this pain.Could the pain be caused from not drinking during the day.
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Answered by Dr. Manuel C See IV (9 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
NSAIDs may help.

Detailed Answer:
Yes if you only have the flank pain with no fever then we have to rule out other causes of your pain other than infection. My Differential diagnosis would be 1) kidney stones 2) muskulo-skeletal pain 3) infection. For the meantime intake of OTC NSAIDs will help (e.g. Tylenol, Mefenamic acid, ibuprofen). It is important to seek consult and get laboratory examinations like a urinalysis, KUB Ultrasound, a serum creatinine and a complete blood count (CBC). This will guide your doctor to the diagnosis right. If your symptoms worsens and you develop fever, vomiting and intractable pain then a visit to the Emergency room would be prudent.

I hope I have succeeded in providing the information you were looking for. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications at: http://www.HealthcareMagic.com/doctors/dr-manuel-c-see-iv/66014 I would gladly help you. Best wishes.

addendum: not drinking during the day would cause dehydration. Dehydration will not cause flank pain but may make you prone to kidney stone formation and urinary tract infections.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Manuel C See IV

Urologist

Practicing since :2005

Answered : 909 Questions

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What Are Symptoms Of Kidney Infection?

Brief Answer: flank pain, fever and chills and pain on urination Detailed Answer: Good Day and thank you for being with Healthcare Magic! Kidney infection usually presents with flank pain, fever and chills, and pain on urination. Kidney infection is medically called Pyelonephritis and is usually a sequelae of an untreated or severe urinary tract infection (UTI). The bacteria usually ascends through the tube called the ureter thereby causing kidney infection. This can be diagnosed by doing a urinalysis to check for UTI. An ultrasound of the kidneys and urinary bladder should also be done to rule out other causes of kidney infection or pain (e.g. kidney stones, renal abscess) On Physical examination, the medical examiner will do a kidney punch to illicit flank tenderness or Costovertebral angle (CVA) tenderness to confirm pyelonephritis. Treatment is through antibiotics depending on the severity of the disease. Mild pyelonephritis can be treated at home with oral antibiotics while severe forms needs to be admitted in the hospital for close monitoring and IV antibiotics. I hope I have succeeded in providing the information you were looking for. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications at: http://www.HealthcareMagic.com/doctors/dr-manuel-c-see-iv/66014 I would gladly help you. Best wishes. Regards, Manuel C. See IV, M.D. DPBU FPUA