Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis) :: Self-Care, Treatment, and Follow-up

If symptoms indicate that you might have urinary tract infection or kidney infection, medical attention should be sought. The correct diagnosis of renal infection is important because it will determine the appropriate therapy and treatment duration.

As soon as doctors diagnose kidney infection, home therapy with antibiotics and adequate food intake and oral fluids can be given. In cases of severe infection or uncontrolled nausea and vomiting, hospitalization may be necessary.

Self-care of kidney infections at home.

The majority of kidney infections can be treated effectively at home. As long as adequate oral and hydration intake is maintained and appropriate antibiotics are consumed, treatment can be adequately performed at home. Other treatments for controlling fever or nausea can also be done at home. Consumption of enough fluids to stay hydrated and adequate rest is also an important step that can be done at home.

Treatment of kidney infection.

There are some treatments available for kidney infections:

• These include hydration (fluid administration) and treatment to control fever and nausea.
• Antibiotics are usually prescribed to treat kidney infections.

The most important component of the treatment of kidney infection is the rapid administration of antibiotics. Once the diagnosis of UTI or kidney infection is done by urine analysis, antibiotics need to be started.

Usually, strong antibiotics start first, which will be effective in treating all the typical bacteria that are suspected of causing the infection. Once the actual bacteria causing the infection is known and its sensitivity is determined, different antibiotics may be selected if the bacteria exhibit resistance to the antibiotic that originally started.

As mentioned above, antibiotics are the most important part of the treatment of kidney and urinary tract infections. Several types of antibiotics are available and used to treat kidney infections.

The choice depends on the specific situation, clinical setting, tolerance, allergies, and the ability to take oral medication.

Some commonly used antibiotics includes:

•     Sulfirida (trimethoprim-sulfomethoxazole),
•     Quinolones (ciprofloxacin, Levafloxacin),
•     Cephalosporins,
•     New generation of penicillin, and
•     Nitrofurantoin

Doctors who diagnose kidney infections can determine what antibiotics are most appropriate in certain situations.

Follow-up kidney infection

Similar to any infection, regular follow-up with a doctor treating kidney infection is important to ensure that therapy is effective. More immediate follow-up may be necessary if symptoms of infection do not improve after a few days of antibiotics and supportive care.

In such cases, further investigation may be necessary to rule out complicated kidney infections and to ensure that the organisms causing the infection are sensitive to the antibiotic prescribed.

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