How Does A Guy Get A Kidney Infection

Acute And Chronic Prostatitis

In the 1800s, prostatitis was thought to be secondary to excessive alcohol consumption or physical or sexual activity. It was often associated with gonorrhea and could be fatal or lead to abscess formation. By the 1920s, most cases were attributed to microorganisms, and antibiotics combined with prostate massage were standard therapy after World War II. Although the role of bacteria was questioned in the 1950s, it was reemphasized in 1968 when Meares and Stamey described their “4-glass test.”

Acute prostatitis is caused by an acute infection of the entire prostate gland, resulting in fever and localized pain. Microscopically, neutrophilic infiltrates, diffuse edema, and microabscesses may be seen, which may coalesce into larger collections.

Chronic prostatitis may be caused by inflammatory or noninflammatory diseases. This condition may arise via dysfunctional voiding, intraprostatic reflux, chronic exposure to microorganisms, autoimmune mechanisms, irritative urinary metabolites, and as a variant of neuropathic pain. Chronic bacterial prostatitis often produces few or no symptoms related to the prostate, but it is probably the most common cause of relapsing UTI in men.

Chronic prostatitis has been subdivided by the National Institutes of Health into the following categories:

How Are Acute Kidney Infections Treated

Children are typically given oral antibiotics to take at home. However, if the infection is advanced, a child may receive intravenous antibiotics in the hospital. Staying well hydrated is an extremely important part of treatment, and children should drink plenty of fluids during and after treatment. There is evidence that good hydration during recovery may help reduce long-term kidney damage.

Additional Symptoms From A Uti

Your kidneys are a pair of organs located in the middle of your back, just below your ribs. Their primary function is to filter waste from your blood into your bladder for elimination. Kidney infections are caused by pathogens like certain kinds of bacteria in one or both of these organs.

How do you know if you have a kidney infection? Symptoms tend to set in suddenly over just hours or days.

The most common symptoms of an infection include:

• Pain in your lower back, side, or genital regions
• A fever with a temperature possibly as high as 103?
• Diarrhea

In most cases, the bacteria that cause your kidney infection originate in your digestive tract. E. coli from your bowels causes between 75% and 90% of all cases of kidney infection. Other pathogens that can cause kidney infections include Enterobacteriaceae other than E. coliand S. saprophyticus.

If youre experiencing many of the symptoms listed above and have had an untreated urinary tract infection for an extended period, then you most likely have a kidney infection. But keep in mind that not all people with a kidney infection have the added symptoms of a UTI.

These additional symptoms include:

• The urgent need to urinate
• Frequent urination that might also be painful
• Urine thats cloudy, dark, or smells bad
• Blood in your urine
• The feeling that you cant fully empty your bladder
• Pain in your lower abdomen the area around your belly

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How Are Kidney Infections Diagnosed

Two common laboratory tests are performed to diagnose kidney infections . A urine sample is examined under a microscope to determine if white and/or red blood cells are present. The urine is also sent to the lab to see if bacteria grow in a urine culture. If a person is very sick, blood cultures may also be sent. The strain of bacteria that are cultured will determine the type of therapy used in your treatment.

Pyelonephritis can often be treated without X-ray studies, unless your doctor suspects there may be an addition problem. CT scans produce images of structures and organs and these scans are usually done without contrast . A renal ultrasound may sometimes suffice for evaluation.

How Is A Kidney Infection Diagnosed

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, do a physical exam, and likely run some diagnostic tests. Those include a urinalysis, to check your pee under a microscope for bacteria and white blood cells, which your body makes to fight infection, and a urine culture to help find out what kind of bacteria is causing the infection, the NIDDK says. Your doctor may even take a blood sample to check for bacteria or other organisms in your blood, the Mayo Clinic says.

Other tests that might come up include an ultrasound, a CT scan, or a form of X-ray called a voiding cystourethrogram, which involves injecting a contrast dye to take X-rays of your bladder when its full and while youre peeing, per the Mayo Clinic.

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Is It A Kidney Infection Or Something Else

Your symptoms could also result from another common illness. Some similar conditions you may mistake for a kidney infection include:

• Other UTIs. Other types of UTIs, such as those affecting the urethra and bladder, can also cause symptoms like urgent and painful urination, abdominal pain, and urine thats cloudy, foul-smelling, or bloody.
• Kidney stones.Kidney stones are hard deposits of materials like calcium or uric acid that form in the kidneys. When they become lodged in the kidneys, they can cause pain in the abdomen, side, or back, as well as nausea and vomiting.
• Lower back pain. If low back pain is your primary symptom, you may have a condition thats affecting your lower back. Examples include injuries, degenerative disc disease, and nerve compression.
• Pregnancy. Symptoms like frequent urination, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal cramping can all be early signs of pregnancy.

Its always a good rule of thumb to seek medical attention if you experience any new or concerning symptoms. A healthcare professional can work with you to determine what may be causing them.

Heres an idea of what you can expect when you seek care for a possible kidney infection.

Kegel Exercises To Help Erectile Dysfunction And Premature Ejaculation

Kegel exercises, or pelvic exercises, have proven to be effective in addressing erectile dysfunction, and it should be used as the first-line of treatment. The ischiocavernosus and bulbocavernosus muscles in the pelvic area surround the penis and are active during an erection. The following exercises aim to strengthen these muscles.

Floor Lying on Your Back Squeezes

Start by lying on your back, hands flat on the floor, and knees comfortably bent and pointing upwards.

Try to draw your penis inwards towards your body and hold for five seconds, then release.

Now squeeze your anus muscles as if you are trying to stop a bowel movement and hold for five seconds, then release.

Repeat steps two and three, eight to 10 times, and do three to five sets.

Floor Lying on Your Side Squeezes

Lie on the floor and on your side.

Place a pillow between your knees. Make sure the pillow is large enough to spread your legs apart.

Squeeze your legs together and hold for five seconds, then release.

Repeat step three, eight to 10 times, and do three to five sets.

Sitting in a Chair Squeezes

Find a comfortable position sitting in a chair.

Squeeze your penis with just its muscles as if you are trying to stop urine from coming out, hold for five seconds, then release.

Repeat step two, eight to 10 times, and then do three to five sets.

One way to test whether youâre doing the squeezing correctly is to try and stop urine flow for a few seconds. If you are able to do so, you are doing it correctly.

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How Are Utis Diagnosed

Only a health care provider can treat urinary tract infections. The first thing a doctor will do is confirm that a person has a UTI by taking a clean-catch urine specimen. At the doctor’s office, you’ll be asked to clean your genital area with disposable wipes and then pee into a sterile cup.

The sample may be used for a urinalysis or a urine culture . Knowing what bacteria are causing the infection can help your doctor choose the best treatment.

Diagnosing And Treating Utis

UTIs can be diagnosed by your primary care doctoryou dont have to see a specialist initially. To diagnose a UTI, your doctor will send a sample of your urine to a lab for a urine culture where the urine is processed and evaluated for bacteria. The culture also can tell us what bug you have and what antibiotics can be used to help treat the infection. A urine analysis, which can be done quickly in our office, can suggest an infection, however, the best test is an actual culture.

Most UTIs are treated with oral antibiotics. However, there are superbugs that may be resistant to what we can give you by mouth, and those would require using stronger antibiotics through an IV. Most treatments last 5 to 7 days, but can be longer.

A quick internet search will give you home remedies for treating a UTI, but I dont recommend this. Untreated infections can spread to the rest of your body and put your life at risk.

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Should I Drink Cranberry Juice For A Uti

For those who are wondering, does drinking cranberry juice really help UTIs go away? few studies show any proof.

Cranberry juice may stop bacteria from clinging to your bladder wall, Dr. Bajic says. But because its acidic it will aggravate your urge to urinate. You can drink it if you want but cranberry juice doesnt work on UTIs as well as antibiotics and proper UTI prevention.

What Can I Do To Help Prevent My Child From Getting A Kidney Infection

If you suspect your child has a UTI, get them prompt medical treatment to help prevent the UTI from turning into a kidney infection. Here are some tips for preventing UTIs.

While preventative antibiotics have been found to reduce the number of recurrent UTIs, there isnt any evidence that their use decreases the risk of kidney infection or scarring. Uncircumcised boys that are less than one year old are ten times more likely to get UTIs than circumcised boys, but by age two the risk decreases and circumcision does not have an effect on infection rates.

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How Long Will The Effects Last

For most UTIs, the symptoms go away within 24 hours after you begin treatment. Take all of the medicine your healthcare provider prescribes, even after the symptoms go away. If you stop taking your medicine before the scheduled end of treatment, the infection may come back.

Without treatment, the infection can last a long time. If it is not treated, the infection can permanently damage the bladder and kidneys, or it may spread to the blood. If the infection spreads to the blood, it can be fatal.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Urine Infection

• Infection in the bladder usually causes pain when you pass urine, and you pass urine more frequently. You may also have pain in your lower tummy . Your urine may become cloudy, bloody or smelly. You may have a high temperature .
• Infection in the kidneys may cause pain in a loin and a high temperature . It may cause you to feel sick or be sick . You may feel generally unwell.

In some elderly men, the only symptoms may be a recent onset of confusion or just feeling generally unwell, even without any actual urinary symptoms.

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Kidney Infection Home Remedies

You can do some things at home to feel better while you have an infection:

• Drink plenty of fluids to flush out germs.
• Get extra rest.
• When you go to the bathroom, sit on the toilet instead of squatting over it, which can keep your bladder from completely emptying.
• Take a pain reliever with acetaminophen. Donât use aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen because these can raise your risk of kidney problems.
• Use a heating pad on your belly, back, or side.

Complications Of Kidney Infections

Most kidney infections are treated successfully without complications, although some people may develop further problems.

Complications of a kidney infection are rare, but you’re more likely to develop them if you:

• are a child

• rapid heartbeat
• breathlessness

Blood poisoning is a medical emergency that usually requires admission to a hospital intensive care unit while antibiotics are used to fight the infection.

If you’re taking certain medications for diabetes, such as metformin or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, they may be temporarily withdrawn until you recover. This is because they can cause kidney damage during an episode of blood poisoning.

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How Men Can Prevent Utis

There are things men can do to reduce the chance of getting a UTI. These include:

• Dont hold urine for too long. Bacteria grow in it.
• Drink water to flush your kidneys.
• Practice good hygiene.
• Urinate after sex to flush bacteria from the urethra.
• If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar. High blood sugar can spill into the urine and bacteria thrive on it.

Can You Get A Uti Through Sex

UTIs are not considered to be sexually transmitted infections , because you can get them in other ways. That said, UTIs can be shared between partners. People who have insertive anal intercourse are at higher risk for UTI. Insertive vaginal intercourse is less likely to cause a UTI, though. Research suggests some sexual partners might UTI-causing bacteria.

Good hygiene is important for all people before and after sex. This is especially true if you have an uncircumcised penis, as the extra skin can trap bacteria and allow it to grow.

• Vomiting

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What Is A Kidney Infection

Kidney infections are a type of UTI. The medical term for a kidney infection is pyelonephritis. Certain bacteria and viruses can cause these infections.

Experts believe that many kidney infections start as an infection of the lower parts of the urinary tract, such as the bladder or urethra. Many times, these infections happen when bacteria from your bowel enter your urinary tract through your urethra.

Its possible for a UTI to continue to move up your urinary tract, progressing from your bladder into your kidneys.

When To Seek Treatment Immediately

While some urinary infections can be treated easily, others are a little more concerning. If you have any of these symptoms in addition to UTI symptoms, you should see your healthcare provider as soon as possible:

• Blood in your urine

• Severe pain in your back or sides

• Fever and/or chills

• Vomiting

These could be signs that the infection has moved into your kidneys. If thats the case, you might need to be treated in the hospital with intravenous antibiotics. This infection should be treated as soon as possible to avoid kidney damage. Sometimes, a surgical procedure may even be required.

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Avoid Alcohol And Coffee

The kidneys most important role is to filter out harmful substances and toxins, and both alcohol and caffeine can require extra work from the kidneys. This may hinder the process of healing from an infection. Alcohol and antibiotics also shouldnt be mixed, so avoid alcohol during your treatment for this reason as well.

Frequency Of Urinary Intake

Youâll feel like you need to go 20 times per day. In addition, your bladder will be irritated and you will have to go to the toilet only a few times. The bladder is designed to hold a lot of urine. However, if your bladder becomes irritated from an infection, you will feel like you need to go every day.

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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.

What Is A Uti Anyway

A UTI, or urinary tract infection, happens when bacteria enters into any part of your urinary system, which includes the urethra, the bladder, the kidneys or the uterus. If not flushed out of the system, the bacteria can lead to an infection, or a UTI.

If youve ever had a UTI , you probably havent forgotten the symptoms. UTIs are very unpleasant, to say the least, and are often accompanied with one or more of the following:

• A burning sensation when urinating

• A strong urge to urinate often, usually passing only small amounts of urine at a time.

• Cloudy and/or strong smelling urine

• Pelvic pain

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What Is A Urinary Tract Infection

A urinary tract infection describes any bacterial infection in the tract that makes up your urinary system. This system comprises:

• The kidneys: These two organs sit on each side of your body, generally around the waist. They filter out excess water and waste from your blood to create urine.
• The ureters: These two thin tubes run between the kidney and bladder, transporting urine to the bladder.
• The bladder: This organ stores urine until it reaches a certain level, at which point you feel the need to pee. The body voluntarily contracts the muscles that line the bladder to urinate.
• The urethra: This thin tube connects the bladder to the outside of the body. When you pee, a muscle called the urinary sphincter relaxes as your bladder contracts to remove urine from your body.

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