Symptoms of swollen kidneys in case of pyelonephritis and what to do

Fever, pain in the lower back, frequent urges to go to the bathroom, pain when urinating… are symptoms that can alert you to a kidney infection or pyelonephritisa type of urinary tract infection that, if left untreated, can have serious consequences.

Pyelonephritis: what is it?

The pyelonephritis is a upper urinary tract infection, which affects the kidneys. Most commonly it is due to a bacterial infection in the urethra or bladder that travels up the ureter to reach the kidney tissue (renal parenchyma) and the renal pelvis. In some cases, however, it can also be due to a bacterial infection in another part of the body that reaches the kidneys through the bloodstream.

Acute or chronic pyelonephritis

The pyelonephritis can be acute or chronic:

The acute pyelonephritiswhich is usually due to a urinary tract infection (cystitis), is a medical emergency and should be treated immediately with antibiotics to avoid serious, life-threatening complications, such as sepsis. chronic pyelonephritis is the persistent kidney infection and appears more frequently in people with anatomical abnormalities, such as reflux vesicoureteral (a disease that causes urine to flow in the opposite direction to normal, that is, it backs up from the bladder through the ureters). May cause permanent kidney damage.

Acute pyelonephritis: symptoms

The symptoms of acute pyelonephritis include:

Fever. Chills. Lower back pain. Nausea and vomiting. General malaise. Urinary tract infection symptoms (frequent need to go to the bathroom or painful urination). Blood in the urine.

Given these symptoms, you should consult a doctor immediately.

When pyelonephritis is chronicOn the other hand, there is usually no fever or symptoms of urinary infection.

What people are most at risk of pyelonephritis?

The womenBecause they have a shorter urethra, they are more likely to suffer from urinary tract infections and, therefore, pyelonephritis. Other risk factors are being sexually active, using spermicides, or being in menopause.

The elderly peoplewith the weakened immune system or with some problem affecting the flow of urine (such as kidney stones or an enlarged prostate) are also at higher risk.

Recommended foods in case of pyelonephritis

He pyelonephritis treatmentas we have commented, is antibiotic. Diet, however, also has an important role in its healing.

in the acute phaseDr. Belén Igual, naturopathic doctor, recommends make a fast, in which juices and broths can be taken. If solids are ingested, “let them be of the foods that take care of kidney healthsuch as cherry, apple, pear, plum, melon, watermelon, mango, grapes, pineapple, lemon…”, he points out.

“should follow a low protein dietin which the proteins are of plant origin”, assures the expert. “In addition, the water is preferable to be of scant mineralization”.

Foods to avoid in case of pyelonephritis

According to Dr. Igual, some foods to be eaten in moderation in case of pyelonephritis and avoid during acute phase They are beets, red cabbage, peas, garlic, eggs, legumes, oats or wheat.

Tomatoes, watercress, asparagus, spinach, rhubarb and figs, and stimulants such as coffee and chocolate are also contraindicated.

As for the seasonings, It is not recommended to add pepper or salt.

Other natural remedies for pyelonephritis

In addition to dietary changes, there are other natural solutions that can help relieve pyelonephritis, such as:

The heat application in the kidney area using a hot water bottle or heating pad.infusions based on horsetail, bearberry, goldenrod and corn stigmas.