Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis)
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Definition & Facts
A kidney infection is a type of urinary tract infection that often begins in your bladder and moves into one or both of your kidneys. In rare cases, kidney infections can lead to serious health problems. Early treatment prevents most complications.
Symptoms & Causes
Symptoms of a kidney infection may include fever; pain in your back, side, or groin; and painful urination. A kidney infection is most often caused by bacteria that infect your bladder and move into one or both of your kidneys.
Diagnosis
Health care professionals use your medical history, a physical exam, and lab tests to diagnose a kidney infection. Your health care professional may also use imaging tests to help diagnose a kidney infection.
Treatment
Health care professionals may treat your kidney infection with antibiotics. Be sure to finish your medicine, even if you start to feel better. Small changes to daily habits may help to prevent kidney infections.
Eating, Diet, & Nutrition
Experts don’t think that diet and nutrition can prevent or treat kidney infections. Drinking lots of liquids helps to prevent or relieve kidney infections. Ask your health care professional how much liquid is right for you.
Clinical Trials
NIDDK conducts and supports clinical trials in many diseases and conditions, including urologic diseases. The trials look to find new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease and improve quality of life.
The Urinary Tract & How It Works
The urinary tract is the body’s drainage system for removing urine, which is composed of wastes and extra fluid. For normal urination to occur, all body parts in the urinary tract need to work together in the correct order.
Your Kidneys & How They Work
Your kidneys keep the makeup of your blood stable, which lets your body work well. Each day, the two kidneys filter blood to remove waste and extra fluid, which leaves the body as urine.
Related Conditions & Diseases
Related Diagnostic Tests
This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.
NIDDK would like to thank:
Megan S. Bradley, M.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine