How to Determine if you have a Kidney infection

Whether you realize it or not, chances are that at least one person you know has been affected by a kidney infection sometime in their life. This unfortunate health issue affects a large number of people each year, and some of the people suffering from it do not even realize that they are until the symptoms become much worse. That is why it is important to be able to determine exactly what it is that causes a kidney infection in the Las Vegas area and how you can spot the symptoms of one.

What is a Kidney Infection?
Sometimes known by its scientific name, pyelonephritis, it is a type of urinary tract infection that can befall an individual. They typically begin in the urethra or bladder and progress into your kidneys. If you get them treated fast enough, then you can avoid any long-term effects. However, if you ignore or do not recognize the symptoms, then it can lead to permanent damage. What is even worse is that it also has the potential to spread the bacteria to your bloodstream and cause a life-threatening infection.

Risk Factors
While there is no guaranteed way to prevent contracting it, there are several common factors that you can be aware of and try to preemptively address to reduce your risk. The first of these risk factors is being female. This cannot be avoided obviously, but it is important to be aware of the fact that if you are female, then you are at a higher risk. This is largely due to the fact that female urethras are shorter than male ones. This makes it easier for bacteria to travel into the bladder, and this risk becomes even worse for pregnant women.

Having a weakened immune system or nerve damage around the bladder can also increase your risk. Without proper defences, your body will not be able to fight off possible infection, and if you have damaged nerves, then you will likely not be able to tell until it is has become much worse.

Symptoms
Some of the symptoms correlate to what you might expect from a lot of other afflictions, so it might not always be clear what you are suffering from. You might experience some fever and chills along with some pain radiating from the back, groin, or abdomen. If you also develop the urge to strongly urinate or you actually begin to frequently urinate, then it might be a sign that you have been infected. If it gets to the point where it is painful to urinate or there is blood in your urine, then you should obviously see a medical professional right away.

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Raj Singh MD

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