Symptoms of Kidney Infections

The kidneys are two separate but identical organs that are part of the urinary tract system. This system produces urine and eliminates it from the body. The kidneys play a big role in many processes that are completed by the urinary tract system, which is why this is an essential part of our body. We have two kidneys, but we can live with only one. However, if our kidneys get infected, we can be in serious danger.

The kidneys perform a number of functions in the body, including filtering waste products from the blood, regulating electrolyte levels, regulating blood pressure and contributing to red blood cell production.

The kidneys are located on both sides of the body, near the lower back underneath the diaphragm. Each kidney connects to the bladder by ureters that drain urine to the bladder from the kidneys. Urine is excreted from the bladder through the urethra.

Our urinary tract system, which includes the bladder and the kidneys, can get infected by the substances that get into our body through the urethra. If your bladder gets infected, it's not as threatening as when you get an infection in the kidneys. Females are more prone to infections in the urinary tract system because they tend to have shorter urethras than males.

Sexual intercourse can also lead to infections to the urinary tract system because the urethra is open and substances that are harmful can easily enter the area and move through the system. Your urinary tract system is also at an increased risk if you are a pregnant woman or you have diabetes. It is also said that you increase the chance of getting kidney infections if you do not drink enough liquids, if you have kidney stones or if you have an enlarged prostate gland that can block the urine from flowing out of the body.

One of these symptoms of a kidney infection is painful urination. The urge to urinate but only passing a small amount of urine is another symptom. Some other signs are foul-smelling urine, feelings of a bloated stomach, elevated temperature, shaking, vomiting and a feeling of pain at your back where the kidneys are located. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should contact your doctor. Your doctor will have specific tests that can be performed to see if you indeed have problems in the urinary tract system.

Having issues with your urinary tract system is not pleasant, so if you feel the symptoms of kidney infection and other parts of the urinary tract, you should seek for help from an expert immediately.

Julie Carlson is a freelance writer and main contributor to http://thehealth411.com/. Visit theHealth411 for a wide range of information, from learning how to stop alcohol to natural hair loss remedies and migraine relief.

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Kidney Pain Causes

Kidney pain can be brought on by a number of different medical reasons. Some of the possible underlying causes are mentioned in this article. First of all, let's give kidney pain a bit of a description. Are you aware of how and where it presents? Typically, it is experienced in the upper area of one's back. If it is in the middle section, or the lower area, then the discomfort that is being experienced may be due to some other reason. Additionally, it is not normally a dull sensation, but more sharp in nature. Let's move on now, by looking at some of the medical causes that can be behind kidney pain.

Renal cancer

This is where there is a malignancy in the organ(s). There are many forms of cancer that can occur in the kidneys. One of the most frequently found ones is renal cell carcinoma. Urothelial cell carcinoma is also amongst the most common forms. When someone has cancer here, there may be some symptoms that show up. One possibility is a mass that can be felt in the abdomen. Hydronephrosis is another issue that may occur. Blood can also show up in the patient's urine.

Stones

You may be aware of some information about this painful condition: kidney stones. This happens when crystals separate from the person's urine, and develop into something hard and sizable. They can lead to a blocked flow of urine. As with renal cancer, blood may appear in the urine. There may also be a burning sensation when the person urinates. Nausea is one of the other potential symptoms. A number of medical reasons can contribute to the development of these stones. Crohn's disease is one possibility. Hyperparathyroidism can also have an effect on their development. A variety of treatment methods exist for this medical reason for kidney pain, and based on certain factors one may be more appropriate than another for a particular case.

Urinary tract infection

Such an illness is also known as a UTI for short. This cause of kidney pain can occur when bacteria gets into the urinary tract. Once again, urine that contains blood may be released. Protein and pus can also be found in the urine in some instances. Night sweats might show up in a person with a UTI. There may be particularly significant levels of fatigue. Do keep in mind that some UTIs do not lead to noticeable symptoms. A urine culture is commonly used as a method to try to confirm a diagnosis of a urinary tract infection.

There are further possible causes of kidney pain. Information on some kinds of kidney disease can also be found at KidneyPain.org.

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