Urinary Tract Infections Can Cause Diarrhea
Urinary tract infections could also cause diarrhea in some cases. The exact reason for this is not clear. However, it is thought that inflammation caused in the urinary tract during UTIs could spread to the nearby colon. This is a a very possible hypothesis since the urinary bladder lies very close to the colon.
Inflammatory chemicals released in the bladder during a urinary tract infection could also act on the colon, resulting in faster transit of stools through the colon and rectum. It is also possible for the infection in the bladder to spread to the colon, rectum and other organs in the pelvis. This could result in infectious diarrhea. Infection can also spread to the rectum from the female reproductive tract. However, this is relatively rare.
How Are Urinary Tract Infections Diagnosed
Your doctor will usually be able to tell whats causing your pain by your description of your symptoms, along with a physical exam. Testing your urine can also help your doctor identify what type of infection you have. Usually, a sample of your urine is taken in your doctors office and sent to a lab to check for infection.
What Is A Urinary Tract Infection
UTIs are common infections that happen when bacteria, often from the skin or rectum, enter the urethra, and infect the urinary tract. The infections can affect several parts of the urinary tract, but the most common type is a bladder infection .
Kidney infection is another type of UTI. Theyre less common, but more serious than bladder infections.
Recommended Reading: Is Mio Bad For Your Kidneys
Living With Urinary Tract Infections
If you have 3 or more urinary tract infections each year, your doctor may want you to begin a preventive antibiotic program. A small dose of an antibiotic taken every day helps to reduce the number of infections. If sexual intercourse seems to cause infections for you, your doctor many suggest taking the antibiotic after intercourse.
Warning Disclaimer Use For Publication
WARNING: Please DO NOT STOP MEDICATIONS without first consulting a physician since doing so could be hazardous to your health.
DISCLAIMER: All material available on eHealthMe.com is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment provided by a qualified healthcare provider. All information is observation-only. Our phase IV clinical studies alone cannot establish cause-effect relationship. Different individuals may respond to medication in different ways. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. The use of the eHealthMe site and its content is at your own risk.
If you use this eHealthMe study on publication, please acknowledge it with a citation: study title, URL, accessed date.
You May Like: Pomegranate Juice For Kidney Stones
Urinary Tract Infection Faqs
Q: What causes a urinary tract infection?A: Urinary tract infections are very common, especially in women, and are most often caused when bacteria from the bowel or genital region enter the body through the urethra. This can lead to an infection of the urethra, bladder, ureters or kidneys. Over 85 percent of UTIs are caused in this way.
UTIs can also be caused by viral, fungal or parasitic infections, but these are much less common causes.
Q: Can men develop a urinary tract infection?A: Yes, although they are rare in men under 50 years of age. Men are less likely than women to develop a UTI because the male urinary tract has more natural defences to infection, such as a longer urethra and further distance between the urethra and the anus.
For this reason, urinary tract infections in men are more likely to be due to a medical cause or an anatomical predisposition to UTIs.{^33]
Q: Can children develop a urinary tract infection?A: Yes, urinary tract infections are a common condition in babies, toddlers and children. In fact, it is the most common bacterial infection in children under two years of age. The usual cause of UTIs in children is similar to adults: bacteria from the anal region entering the urinary tract through the urethra. Some children may be at added risk of developing a UTI due to not having developed effective personal hygiene methods, such as wiping from front to back after using the toilet.Read more about Pediatric Urinary Tract Infection û.
Who’s Most Likely To Get A Kidney Infection
Women and children are most at risk of developing a kidney infection, as well as other urinary tract infections such as cystitis.
In women, the urethra is closer to the anus than in men, making it easier for bacteria from the anus to enter the urethra accidentally. The female urethra is also much shorter than the male urethra . This makes it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder and move into the kidneys.
Other factors can also put you more at risk of developing a kidney infection, including:
You May Like: Is Watermelon Kidney Friendly
Why Do Women Get Urinary Tract Infections More Often Than Men
Women tend to get urinary tract infections more often than men because bacteria can reach the bladder more easily in women. The urethra is shorter in women than in men, so bacteria have a shorter distance to travel.
The urethra is located near the rectum in women. Bacteria from the rectum can easily travel up the urethra and cause infections. Bacteria from the rectum is more likely to get into the urethra if you wipe from back to front after a bowel movement. Be sure to teach children how to wipe correctly.
Having sex may also cause urinary tract infections in women because bacteria can be pushed into the urethra. Using a diaphragm can lead to infections because diaphragms push against the urethra and make it harder to completely empty your bladder. The urine that stays in the bladder is more likely to grow bacteria and cause infections.
Frequent urinary tract infections may be caused by changes in the bacteria in the vagina. Antibacterial vaginal douches, spermicides, and certain oral antibiotics may cause changes in vaginal bacteria. Avoid using these items, if possible. Menopause can also cause changes in vaginal bacteria that increase your risk for urinary tract infection. Taking estrogen usually corrects this problem but may not be for everyone.
Also Check: Is Mulberry Good For Kidneys
Gi Issues Caused By Kidney Stones
Normally, kidney stones cause symptoms such as pressure and pain in your lower back, fever, frequent urination, discomfort urinating, and bloody or discoloured urine. However, sometimes kidney stones can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and stomach discomfort.
If youre experiencing sudden low back pain and gastrointestinal discomfort, dont ignore the possibility that it might be kidney stones.
Recommended Reading: Is Watermelon Good For Kidney Patients
Drinking Plenty Of Fluids
To aid the removal of the stone, it is important to drink plenty of clear fluids. Keeping well hydrated will also help to prevent stones from forming too. Drinking lots of water is particularly important if you have a stone that has formed from uric acid as this will help to break the stone down. In these instance you will be advised to try to drink around three litres of water a day and may also be given a medication to make your urine more alkaline, which will also help the stone break down.
What Are Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are painful accumulations of minerals that form in your kidneys and can cause serious pain. Often smaller stones can pass freely through your urinary tract without symptoms, but larger stones can become stuck in the urinary tract causing severe abdominal or lower back pain and other symptoms.
Read Also: Can Kidney Problems Cause Swollen Feet
Don’t Miss: Ginger Good For Kidneys
Who Is More Likely To Get A Kidney Infection
Anyone can get a kidney infection, but it is more common in some people, such as:
- Women: A woman’s urethra is shorter than a man’s. Having a shorter urethra makes it easier for bacteria to get into the urinary tract. The urethra is also closer to the anus in women. Bacteria can spread from the anus or vagina into the urethra, and then travel up the urinary tract. Pregnant women are even more likely to have a kidney infection.
- People with diabetes
- People with a weakened immune system: This could be caused by a disease, such as diabetes or HIV, or by certain medicines called immunosuppressives. People who have had a kidney transplant or other organ transplant take immunosuppressives.
- People who have nerve or spinal cord damage that keeps them from feeling pain in and around their urinary tract: This can keep them from noticing symptoms of a bladder infection, which can lead to a kidney infection.
- People who use a catheter to drain urine from their bladder
- People with vesicoureteral reflux : People with VUR have urinary tracts that allow urine to flow backwards from the bladder to the kidneys.
Symptoms Of Urinary Tract Infections
The symptoms of an infection in your upper urinary tract are different from symptoms of infection in your lower urinary tract .
However, in some cases you may notice the symptoms of both, as one can spread to the other.
Symptoms of a UTI are similar to those of many other conditions and don’t necessarily mean you have an infection.
Also Check: Does Sprite Cause Kidney Stones
When To Seek Medical Advice
Contact your GP if you have a high temperature, persistent pain, or if you notice a change to your usual pattern of urination. Contact your GP immediately if you think your child may have a kidney infection.
If you have blood in your urine, you should always see your GP so the cause can be investigated.
Kidney infections require prompt treatment with antibiotics to help relieve symptoms and prevent complications developing.
Your GP can carry out some simple tests to help diagnose a kidney infection.
See diagnosing kidney infections for more information
What Causes Kidney Failure
Kidney failure may occur from an acute situation that injures the kidneys or from chronic diseases that gradually cause the kidneys to stop functioning.
In acute renal failure, kidney function is lost rapidly and can occur from a variety of insults to the body. Since most people have two kidneys, both kidneys must be damaged for complete kidney failure to occur. Fortunately, if only one kidney fails or is diseased it can be removed, and the remaining kidney may continue to have normal kidney function. If both patients kidneys are injured or diseased, a donor kidney may be transplanted.
The list of causes of kidney failure is often categorized based on where the injury has occurred.
Prerenal causes causes are due to decreased blood supply to the kidney. Examples of prerenal causes of kidney failure are:
- Hypovolemia due to blood loss
Why this happens:
A build-up of wastes in the blood can make food taste different and cause bad breath. You may also notice that you stop liking to eat meat, or that you are losing weight because you just dont feel like eating.
What patients said:
Foul taste in your mouth. Almost like youre drinking iron.
I dont have the appetite I had before I started dialysis, I must have lost about 10 pounds.
Also Check: Is Grape Juice Good For Kidney Stones
Read Also: Is Ginger Tea Good For Kidneys
Treatment Of Kidney Disease In Dogs
Now that you know how to identify kidney disease in dogs, these are the solutions that you want!
The treatment depends of course on the stage your animal is at. Also, we do not treat chronic kidney failure and acute kidney failure in exactly in the same way. In any case, turn to an animal health professional for advice.
In cases of chronic kidney failure, the destruction of the kidneys is progressive, so often the disease is unfortunately diagnosed when the organs are already in a bad state.
However, a dog that receives this diagnosis may still hope to have some good years ahead of him with proper treatment. Unfortunately, unlike humans, dialysis or kidney transplantation is not possible in dogs, but other care is possible and will help reduce the symptoms of the disease or slow down its progression.
Ask your veterinarian for advice on what diet is suitable for YOUR dogs condition.
Some professionals agree that a diet low in protein is important both clinically and biochemically. Proteins are high in phosphorus, which would create a high nitrogen load and could put pressure on the liver and kidneys.
This theory, however, is not supported by all nutritionists and veterinarians. Any changes to your pets diet should therefore be supported by advice from a health professional. In fact, a low protein diet could create a deficiency in amino acids.
Here are some basic tips that you could put into practice:
Recommended Reading: Is Watermelon Bad For Kidneys
Signs Of Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease is generally without symptoms and painless in its early stages, except in situations where an underlying condition causes pain. Chronic kidney disease takes a long time to develop. If the affected personâs symptoms develop over a number of hours or a few days, it is more likely that the kidney problem they are experiencing is acute kidney injury .
Chronic kidney disease is a common disorder, with an estimated 1 in 10 people in the US having some degree of the disorder. Chronic kidney disease can occur at any age, but is more common in the elderly, and it is more common in women than in men. In the elderly, CKD is often a result of ageing rather than an underlying disorder.
A diagnosis of chronic kidney disease is often made only in the later stages of the disorder. In the early stages, the disorder may not cause disturbances that can be clinically measured. Symptoms only appear later, and once they do, the affected person will be tested by a physician to confirm that CKD is present.
Some conditions predispose people to chronic kidney disease. These include:
- Nosebleeds
- Rash
If these symptoms appear, seek medical assistance as soon as possible. Seek emergency help if you experience problems with breathing or pain in your chest area, canât stay awake despite trying or canât keep fluids down at all.
For more information on chronic kidney disease, read this resource on chronic renal failure.
Recommended Reading: Is Pomegranate Juice Good For Your Kidneys
What Is Pyelonephritis
Pyelonephritis is the medical term for a kidney infection. The most common cause of acute kidney infections in children is from a bacterial urinary tract infection that has spread from the bladder to the kidneys. The bacteria trigger inflammation and the kidneys respond by producing more urine, which leads to dehydration.
The inflammation and dehydration from just one kidney infection can result in scarring that can cause high blood pressure and reduced kidney function. Therefore, it is critical that children who have a UTI and fever, especially those under the age of 2, receive prompt medical care to prevent possible permanent kidney damage. Repeat acute kidney infections can ultimately lead to the need for a kidney transplant. In very rare cases, untreated pyelonephritis can cause death.
When To See A Doctor
If you have signs of a kidney infection, you should see a doctor right away. Again, a kidney infection is seriousit can sometimes lead to a dangerous, life-threatening health condition called , the NIDDK says. Even if your infection doesnt progress to that, a kidney infection can become chronic, i.e., long-lasting, and can cause permanent damage to your kidneys, the NIDDK says. Kaufman recommends heading to your local urgent care facility or emergency room if you have signs of a kidney infection.
Recommended Reading: Is Ginger Good For Your Kidneys
What Tests Are Needed
Blood and urine tests are used to determine if kidney failure is present, and if it is, how severe it is. Other tests, such as x-rays, sonogram , and special blood tests are usually necessary to tell what caused the kidney failure. Sometimes a biopsy of the kidney is recommended. The cause of kidney failure is not always easily discernable.
Treatment of AKI depends on whats causing your illness and how severe it is.
You may need:
- to increase your intake of water and other fluids if youre dehydrated
- antibiotics if you have an infection
- to stop taking certain medicines
- a urinary catheter, a thin tube used to drain the bladder if theres a blockage
You may need to go to hospital for some treatments.
Most people with AKI make a full recovery, but some people go on to develop chronic kidney disease or long-term kidney failure as a result.
In severe cases, dialysis, where a machine filters the blood to rid the body of harmful waste, extra salt and water, may be needed.
Infants Toddlers And Young Children
The parent or caretaker of an infant, toddler, or young child with diarrhea and any of the following symptoms should seek a doctors care right away:
- diarrhea lasting more than 24 hours
- fever of 102 degrees or higher
- severe pain in the abdomen or rectum
- stools containing blood or pus
- stools that are black and tarry
- symptoms of dehydration
Also Check: Watermelon For Kidneys
Urinary Tract Infection Treatment
If you are a healthy adult man or a woman who is not pregnant, a few days of antibiotic pills will usually cure your urinary tract infection. If you are pregnant, your doctor will prescribe a medicine that is safe for you and the baby. Usually, symptoms of the infection go away 1 to 2 days after you start taking the medicine. Its important that you follow your doctors instructions for taking the medicine, even if you start to feel better. Skipping pills could make the treatment less effective.
Your doctor may also suggest a medicine to numb your urinary tract and make you feel better while the antibiotic starts to work. The medicine makes your urine turn bright orange, so dont be alarmed by the color when you urinate.