Discharge instructions for pyelonephritis
You have been seen in the same day emergency care (SDEC) / emergency department today and told that you have a kidney infection. This is called pyelonephritis.
What is a kidney Infection
A kidney infection is a painful bacterial infection of one or both of your kidneys. It is caused by bacteria travelling from your bladder into one or both of your kidneys and causing an infection there.
If it is treated early, there should be no serious harm. If it is left untreated, it can become worse and cause kidney damage.
Most kidney infections are one off and come on quite quickly. This is called an acute kidney infection.
Causes of kidney infections
Most kidney infections develop from a bladder infection. Bacteria travel up the tubes between the bladder and kidney to infect a kidney. These bacteria are those normally living in the bowel such as E.Coli. Most people with a bladder infection don’t get a kidney infection.
Some kidney infections can develop without a bladder infection. This is sometimes due to a problem in the kidney. For example, some people are more likely to get kidney infections if they have a kidney stone or an abnormality of the kidney.
It is usually only one kidney that develops an infection. It can occur at any age and is more common in women. This is because women are more at risk of getting a bladder infection. This is because the tube you pass urine through is closer to anus and shorter in length compared to men making it easier for bacteria to enter the bladder.
Kidney infections are also more common in children, during pregnancy and in older people. They are uncommon in healthy men.
Symptoms of kidney infections
Symptoms usually develop quickly, over a few hours or so, and may include:
- Pain in a loin or flank. (This is the area at the side of your back where the kidney is located).
- High temperature (fever) which may cause shivers.
- Feeling sick (nausea) and/or being sick (vomiting).
- Diarrhoea.
- Blood in the urine.
- There will also usually be symptoms of a bladder infection – for example, pain on passing urine, and going to the toilet often.
Not all of the symptoms may develop, and sometimes a kidney infection can make you feel generally unwell without being able to say why.
In older people a kidney infection may cause confusion. This is why a urine test is often done when an elderly person suddenly becomes confused or appears generally unwell.
Treating kidney infections
Take all the medicine that you were prescribed, even if you feel better. Not finishing the medicine can make the infection come back. It may also make a future infection harder to treat.
Unless told not to by the healthcare provider, drink plenty of fluids. Clear fluids, such as water are best. This may help flush the infection from your system.
Take regular pain killers such as paracetamol this can ease pain and reduce a high temperature. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen are not usually recommended for a person with kidney infection.
You may have also been provided an additional pain killer or anti-sickness medication from the hospital and these should be taken as instructed – instructions should be clearly labelled on the box.
Preventing kidney infections
You can do some things to reduce your risk of getting a kidney infection:
- Stay hydrated. Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water each day. Your urine should be light yellow or clear, which is a good sign you’re well hydrated.
- Don’t hold in your urine for long periods of time. Try to use the restroom every 3-4 hours or whenever you feel the need to go
- for women, wipe front to back after using the toilet, especially after opening bowels.
- for women, pass urine before and as soon as possible after sex.
When to seek further advice and planned follow up
You will receive a telephone call from the SDEC team 2 days after starting treatment to see if your symptoms are improving.
If you feel more unwell or develop any of the following symptoms, we advise that you immediately contact SDEC on 0191 445 3482 between the hours of 8am and 7pm.
- Going to toilet less or having difficulty passing urine
- Severe pain in the lower back or flank
- Fever (Temperature more than 37.5â°C or less than 36â°C)
- Shaking
- Vomiting
- Blood in urine
- Dark urine or foul smelling
- Feeling sick or other problems that stop you from taking your prescribed medication
- New or worsening symptoms.
Outside these hours, you can contact 111 for advice or present to the emergency department.