Kidney infection (pyelonephritis)

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Overview	Symptoms	Treatment	Prevention

Kidney infection (pyelonephritis)

Alternative Names

Urinary tract infection - complicated; Infection - kidney; Complicated urinary tract infection; Pyelonephritis

Symptoms

Flank pain or back pain
Severe abdominal pain (occurs occasionally)
Fever
- Higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit
- Persists for more than 2 days
Chills with shaking
Warm skin
Flushed or reddened skin
Moist skin (diaphoresis)
Vomiting, nausea
Fatigue
General ill feeling
Painful urination
Increased urinary frequency or urgency
Need to urinate at night (nocturia)
Cloudy or abnormal urine color
Blood in the urine
Foul or strong urine odor
Mental changes or confusion *

* Sometimes in the elderly, mental changes or confusion are the only signs of a urinary tract infection.

Exams and Tests

An examination may show tenderness on palpation (pressing) over the kidney.

A urinalysis commonly reveals white blood cells (WBCs) or red blood cells (RBCs) in the urine.
A urine culture from aclean catch or urine culture (catheterized specimen) may reveal bacteria in the urine.
A blood culture may show an infection.
An intravenous pyelogram (IVP) or CT scan of the abdomen may show enlarged kidneys with poor flow of dye through the kidneys. IVP and CT scan of the abdomen can also indicate underlying disorders.

Underlying abnormalities of the kidney that put a patient at high risk for acute pyelonephritis may be discovered by additional tests and procedures, including the following:


Tuberculosis in the kidney


Anatomical landmarks, back view


Anatomical landmarks, side view


Kidney anatomy


Kidney - blood and urine flow

Review Date: 7/25/2006
Reviewed By: David M. Charytan, M.D., M.Sc., Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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