There are certainly things that increase your risk of getting a kidney infection, but even so, they’re still quite rare.

To learn more about kidney infections, read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Southcenter provides some helpful information.

What Typically Causes a Kidney Infection?

A kidney infection usually happens when bacteria get into the urethra (the tube which carries urine out of the body) and travel up through the bladder and into the kidneys.

It’s rare, but an infection can also get in through your skin, make its way into your blood, and travel to your kidney. You can get an infection after kidney surgery, too, but that’s even more unlikely as these causes of infection usually only occur among people with weakened immune systems. We’ve listed a few other risk factors to be on the lookout for below.

Common Kidney Infection Risk Factors

• Being female. Women are six times more at risk than men because of their shorter urethras. This makes it easier for bacteria to reach the urinary tract.
• Having damage to nerves around the bladder. Nerve or spinal cord damage can block the sensations of a bladder infection so that you’re unaware when it’s advancing to a kidney infection.
• Being pregnant. The urinary tract shifts in pregnancy and may make it easier for bacteria to get to the kidneys.
• Having problems emptying your bladder, which is called urinary retention

How Are Kidney Infections Treated?

Kidney infections are commonly treated with antibiotics. If a kidney infection goes untreated, however, it can cause serious health complications, like sepsis or kidney scarring.

The way to avoid these complications is by visiting your doctor or our AFC center promptly when you experience the below-mentioned symptoms. When you promptly seek medical care for your kidney infection, your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics, which should get you feeling good as new in two weeks or less.

Common Kidney Infection Symptoms

• Fever
• Chills
• Back or side pain
• Groin pain
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Frequent urination
• Urine that’s cloudy, smells bad or contains blood

If you think you may have a kidney infection, don’t wait to visit our center AFC Urgent Care Southcenter! Our team is here for you now and always, so don’t wait to get the medical care you need.