Kidney infections are common conditions that can affect people of all ages. However, women and men over 65 are more likely to develop the condition.

Though most kidney infections go away on their own, some people might require additional care. Consult your medical provider immediately if you think you have kidney infection symptoms. That’s because some symptoms can be serious and need immediate care. You can enroll in our prescription assistance program for help affording medicine.

Here are some symptoms you need to look out for:

What Should You Know About Kidney Infections?

Pyelonephritis, or kidney infection, is a condition that occurs when bacteria or viruses affect one or both of the kidneys. The condition is caused by bacteria or viruses affecting the urinary tract. They travel up the urethra to spread to one or both kidneys.

Usually, the bacteria come from other parts of the urinary tract. The urinary tract is made up of:

1. Kidneys (responsible for cleaning waste and removing excess water from the blood via urine.)
2. Ureters (responsible for carrying the urine to the bladder)
3. Bladders are responsible for storing urine.
4. Urethra (tubes that carry urine outside the body)

Symptoms of Kidney Infections

The symptoms of a kidney infection usually appear a couple of days after the initial infection. These include:

1. Abdominal pain
2. Bloody urine
3. Burning pain while urinating.
4. Chills
5. Diarrhea
6. Fatigue
7. Fever
8. Frequent urge to urinate
9. Inability to empty the bladder fully.
10. Nausea
11. Pain in the lower back
12. Pain in the groin
13. Pain on your left side
14. Pus in urine
15. Vomiting

Children with kidney infections who are under two years of age may only experience a high fever. However, people over 65 might also show other symptoms, like confusion, slurred speech, etc.

Causes of Kidney Infections

We’ve already mentioned that kidney infections can occur due to bacteria or viruses traveling up the urethra to spread.

Kidney infections most likely occur due to Escherichia coli (E. coli). These bacteria are located in our intestine and can travel to the urethra.

Here are some of the causes of why the bacteria or viruses spread in the urethra:

1. Accidental transference from bowel to urethra.
2. Contracting a urinary tract infection.
3. Bacteria from an infection in another part of the body travels to the kidney via the bloodstream.
4. Bladder or kidney surgery
5. Kidney stone or a tumor in the urinary tract obstructing the flow of urine.

Consider Advocate My Meds’ services your go-to when it comes to prescription drug assistance.

Advocate My Meds is a prescription assistance organization in the United States offering reliable full-service prescription assistance programs. We prescription drug assistance for over 1,500 name-brand and generic drugs, like abbvie prescription assistance.

Check for eligibility or contact us today to find out more about our services.