How Can I Prevent A Kidney Infection
You may be able to lower your chance of getting a kidney infection by:
- Drinking plenty of water
- Urinating as soon as you feel the need to
- Urinating after having sex
- Avoiding the use of deodorant sprays or douches in your genital area
- Getting treatment for constipation . Constipation is not a symptom of kidney infection but it can increase your chance of having bacteria in your urinary tract because it can make it difficult to empty your bladder fully.
Swollen Ankles May Be Due To Heart Failure
If you suffer from coronary artery disease or high blood pressure, you may be at risk of congestive heart failure. In this case, be alert to signs of any swelling in your ankles. If your heartâs chambers can no longer pump blood properly, that fluid can flow back and cause this kind of swelling. You need immediate medical attention. In very severe cases, you may notice swelling in your legs too. Look out for associated symptoms like shortness of breath, rapid or irregular heartbeat, persistent cough, disorientation and chest pain.
Infectious Disease And Your Kidneys
What would you do if you had a fever with irritation or pain when you urinate? Would you wait a few days and then make an appointment to see a doctor? Dont wait. Those symptoms might be from a bladder infection. Bladder infections need to be treated. If a bladder infection is not resolved, it may lead to a kidney infection.
Kidney infections are rare, but they can cause a number of problems. Urine is one of the body fluids that normally have no bacteria. When the bladder is infected with bacteria, the bacteria in the bladder can travel up to the kidney. If this happens, you may have pain in the back or side, chills and fever, irritation or pain when urinating, or orangecolored urine . Nausea and vomiting can also occur. Urine is checked for bacteria in several ways. A test of the kidney, such as a scan or an ultrasound may be ordered. A kidney infection is called pyelonephritis.
Most kidney infections start as bladder infections. Bladder infections usually get better with antibiotics in otherwise healthy people. The goal of antibiotics is to kill the bacteria in the bladder and prevent it from spreading. One dose is not enough you need to finish all of the pills in the prescription to be sure the bacteria are gone. If you still have symptoms when you finish the pills, you should call your doctor. You might need another or a different prescription.
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Why Are Seniors At Risk For Utis
Men and women older than 65 are at greater risk for UTIs. This is because both men and women tend to have more problems emptying their bladder completely as they age, causing bacteria to develop in the urinary system.
In older men, this often happens because of a common condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia , or an enlarged prostate gland. The enlarged prostate blocks the flow of urine and prevents the bladder from fully emptying.
Other risk factors for UTIs in older adults include:
- Using a catheter to empty the bladder
- Having kidney stones, which can block the flow of urine
- Having a suppressed immune system, which lowers the bodys defense against infection
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What Is The Treatment For Acute Kidney Failure
Your treatment will depend on the cause of your acute kidney failure. The goal is to restore normal kidney function. Preventing fluids and wastes from building up in your body while your kidneys recover is important. In the majority of cases, a kidney specialist called a nephrologist makes an evaluation.
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How Is Kidney Disease Diagnosed
If you might have a kidney condition, you’ll probably visit a pediatric nephrologist , a doctor who specializes in treating kidney diseases. The doctor will ask you about any concerns and symptoms you have, your past health, your family’s health, any medicines you’re taking, any allergies you have, and other issues. This is called your .
The doctor will want to do urine tests and blood tests to look for signs of structural issues, an infection, glomerulonephritis, or nephrotic syndrome, and to check how well your kidneys are working.
One test commonly used to detect kidney conditions is a renal ultrasound. This picture of the kidneys is made using sound waves. It shows how big the kidney is, its shape, and whether there is anything unusual, such as blockage of the urine flow or swelling. An ultrasound is safe and painless.
Sometimes doctors order a test called a renal scan. A dye is injected into the veins and then pictures are taken that show how blood flows through the kidneys. This tells a doctor whether pee is being made normally. In another test, called a kidney biopsy, the doctor uses a special needle to remove a tiny piece of the kidney to check under a microscope.
It May Signify A Blood Clot
This is especially true if the swelling is just on one ankle. This needs immediate medical attention. The clot may move into the lungs and cause pulmonary embolism. This is a life-threatening condition. Be alert to other symptoms like pain, shortness of breath, discoloured skin and light headedness.
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What To Expect At Your Office Visit
Your provider will take a medical history and do a thorough physical examination, paying special attention to your heart, lungs, abdomen, lymph nodes, legs, and feet.
Your provider will ask questions such as:
- What body parts swell? Your ankles, feet, legs? Above the knee or below?
- Do you have swelling at all times or is it worse in the morning or evening?
- What makes your swelling better?
- What makes your swelling worse?
- Does the swelling get better when you raise your legs?
- Have you had blood clots in your legs or lungs?
- Have you had varicose veins?
- What other symptoms do you have?
Diagnostic tests that may be done include:
Your treatment will focus on the cause of the swelling. Your provider may prescribe diuretics to reduce the swelling, but these can have side effects. Home treatment for leg swelling that is not related to a serious medical condition should be tried before drug therapy.
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Symptoms Of Kidney Infection
Symptoms of pyelonephritis often begin suddenly with chills, fever, pain in the lower part of the back on either side, nausea, and vomiting.
, including frequent, painful urination. One or both kidneys may be enlarged and painful, and doctors may find tenderness in the small of the back on the affected side. Sometimes the muscles of the abdomen are tightly contracted. Irritation from the infection or the passing of a kidney stone can cause spasms of the ureters. If the ureters go into spasms, people may experience episodes of intense pain . In children, symptoms of a kidney infection Urinary Tract Infection in Children A urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection of the urinary bladder , the kidneys , or both. Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria. Infants and younger… read more often are slight and more difficult to recognize. In older people, pyelonephritis may not cause any symptoms that seem to indicate a problem in the urinary tract. Instead, older people may have a decrease in mental function , fever, or an infection of the bloodstream .
In chronic pyelonephritis, the pain may be vague, and fever may come and go or not occur at all.
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What Kind Of Follow
Serial urinalyses and urine cultures are done during antibiotic treatment, generally 5 to 7 days into treatment and 1 to 4 weeks after antibiotic therapy concludes. Potential complications of pyelonephritis include kidney failure, recurrent kidney infections, bacteria in the blood causing infection in other parts of the body .
Overall, dogs with sudden pyelonephritis do well and return to normal health unless they also have kidney stones, chronic kidney disease, urinary tract obstruction, or cancer in the urinary tract.
Dogs with chronic or recurrent pyelonephritis may be difficult to cure and their prognosis is more serious. If pyelonephritis is not identified and treated appropriately, permanent kidney damage and chronic kidney disease with kidney failure may result.
| Contributors: Tammy Hunter, DVM Robin Downing, DVM, DAAPM, DACVSMR, CVPP, CRPP |
Symptoms Of A Kidney Infection
Common symptoms of a kidney infection include:
- A feeling of needing to urinate, even though you just did
- Painful, burning, and/or frequent urination
- Cloudy or bad-smelling urine
- Blood or pus in your urine
Symptoms can vary by age. Babies and older people might not have the common symptoms. Instead, they may have slurred speech, dizziness, or confusion. Get medical care right away if you have any of these symptoms.
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Cautions With Other Medicines
Some medicines can affect the way aciclovir tablets or liquid work. They can also make you more likely to get side effects.
If youre using aciclovir cream on your skin, this is less likely to react with other medicines.
Its important to tell your doctor if you take any of the following medicines before taking aciclovir:
- cimetidine, a medicine for stomach ulcers
- mycophenolate mofetil, a medicine given after organ transplants
- probenecid, a medicine for gout
- aminophylline or theophylline, medicines for asthma
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When Will I Begin To Feel Better
Once you start treatment, you should start to feel better in a few days.
Can I have sex while being treated for a kidney infection?After you have started treatment and your symptoms have gone away, it is usually safe to have sex. Remember to urinate after sex to avoid getting more bacteria in your urinary tract.
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What Are The Complications Of Swollen Ankles And Swollen Feet
Swollen feet and ankles can lead to discomfort and pain when walking or running is attempted.
- Chronic swelling can lead to skin color changes and skin ulcers.
- The skin ulcers can occasionally become infected.
- The skin infections can be further complicated by abscess formation, cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis, and death.
Bladder Infections Are Common
Kidney infections are a rare complication of bladder infections. Bladder infections are very common, though. In fact, about half of women will have one in their lifetime. Those most at risk are women who are younger than 50. Women have a greater risk than men because of their anatomy. The tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside is shorter in women. And the urethra is closer to the bowels. While only one in 10 men will have a urinary tract infection, bladder infections in men are more likely to occur later in life. Older men are more likely to have prostate problems, which can partially block the urine.
Other, more unusual, causes of kidney infections are medical procedures that require a scope of the bladder or surgery of the urinary tract. Urinary tract infections can be caused by bacteria that come in from catheters. Catheters are tubes that drain urine from the bladder. Urinary catheters are tubes used in people who are having problems urinating or during medical procedures. Other causes of infections are blockages from prostate enlargement or kidney stones.
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Liver Or Kidney Problems
Chronic liver disease can lead to a buildup of fluid in the legs and abdomen, along with other symptoms such as yellowed skin , redness on the palms of the hands or pale-colored stools. Likewise, kidney disease can be accompanied by swelling in the lower extremities, as well as fatigue, needing to urinate more often or difficulty concentrating. If youre experiencing these kinds of symptoms, speak to your doctor.
Signs And Symptoms Of Uti In The Elderly
Interestingly enough, the elderly with a UTI are often misdiagnosed with senior dementia or Alzheimers disease, because a UTI can mimic symptoms of such conditions. Also, according to Nursing magazine between 30% and 40% of elderly patients with serious infection dont exhibit the hallmark sign of fever due to the inability of the immune system to mount a response to infection due to the effects of aging. As the bacteria in the urine spread to the bloodstream and cross the blood-brain barrier, confusion and other cognitive difficulties can be the result. Sudden onset of these symptoms should lead one to investigate possible UTI. An elderly person who is experiencing signs of mental difficulties should also be closely monitored for other signs of a UTI such as:
- Urine that appears cloudy
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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.
Swelling Around Your Extremities
The kidneys filter wastes from the blood and remove excess water from the body via urine. When the kidneys arent doing their job, this fluid can stay in the system instead of being excreted. Swelling around the hands, feet, and ankles may be associated with kidney or heart failure and shouldnt be dismissed.
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The Link Between Kidney Disease And Swollen Legs
Chronic kidney disease is an underrecognized public health crisis, causing more deaths than breast cancer or prostate cancer. It affects some 37 million people in the US , of which about 90% dont know they have a problem, as the disease is asymptomatic in its early stages. Its also linked to two other major diseases: 1 in 3 adults with diabetes and 1 in 5 adults with high blood pressure may also have kidney disease. All three conditions can lead to edema in the legs.
At Comprehensive Vascular Care, our team of vascular experts sees many cases of edema of the legs in our Southfield and Novi, Michigan offices. The key is to get at the cause of the edema to ensure proper treatment of the underlying condition. Heres what you need to know about the link between kidney disease and your swollen legs.
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How Should I Take Valtrex
Take Valtrex exactly as it was prescribed for you. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Start taking Valtrex as soon as possible after the first appearance of symptoms . This medicine might not be as effective if you first start taking it 1 or 2 days after the start of your symptoms.
Some herpes infections need to be treated for longer than others. Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may increase the risk of your virus becoming resistant to antiviral medicine.
You may take Valtrex with or without food.
Tell your doctor if a child taking this medicine cannot swallow the tablet.
Drink plenty of water while you are taking Valtrex to keep your kidneys working properly.
Lesions caused by herpes viruses should be kept as clean and dry as possible. Wearing loose clothing may help to prevent irritation of the lesions.
Store Valtrex tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
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The Most Common Bladder Cancer Symptoms
Let your healthcare provider know if you experience swelling in your feet, especially if you also experience any problems or changes related to urination. The most common symptom of bladder cancer, which is experienced by around 80% to 90% of patients diagnosed, is blood in the urine that is easily visible. Between 20% and 30% of patients diagnosed with bladder cancer experience other symptoms related to urination, which include
- The need to urinate more frequently than usual
- Chest pain, tightness, or heaviness
These may be signs of a blood clot in the lungs , which is a medical emergency and can be life-threatening.
Can You Get Chickenpox If Youve Been Vaccinated
Yes. About 15% 20% of people who have received one dose of varicella vaccine do still get chickenpox if they are exposed, but their disease is usually mild. Vaccinated persons who get chickenpox generally have fewer than 50 spots or bumps, which may resemble bug bites more than typical, fluid-filled chickenpox blisters. In 2006, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend routine two-dose varicella vaccination for children. In one study, children who received two doses of varicella vaccine were three times less likely to get chickenpox than individuals who have had only one dose.
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