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Ency. home > Disease > K > Kidney infection (pyelonephritis)

Kidney infection (pyelonephritis) See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

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

Symptoms

Flank pain or back pain

Severe abdominal pain (occurs occasionally)

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

General ill feeling

Urination, painful

Urinary frequency/urgency, increased

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.

Signs and Tests

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

A urinalysis commonly reveals white blood cells (WBC) and/or red blood cells (RBC).
A urine culture (clean catch) or urine culture (catheterized specimen) may reveal bacteria in the urine.
A blood culture may show an infection.
An IVP or CT scan of the abdomen may show enlarged kidney(s) with decreased excretion of contrast. (IVP and CT scan of the abdomen can also indicate underlying disorders.)

Underlying disorders predisposing a patient to acute pyelonephritis may be discovered by additional other tests and procedures, including:

Ency. home > Disease > K > Kidney infection (pyelonephritis)

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