Kidney infections are rare, but they can be severe if you do get one. Women are more prone to get them than men, but they can happen to anyone at any age.

Our AFC Urgent Care Greenwood team provides some further information about kidney infections below, so read on.

What Exactly Is a Kidney Infection?

A kidney infection is a type of UTI where one or both kidneys become infected. They can be infected by bacteria in the urinary tract or a pre-existing virus and can cause people to experience life-threatening sickness when not treated quickly and effectively.

Like we said earlier, although kidney infections can be very serious, they are quite rare. To know whether you’re dealing with a kidney infection, we’ve listed some of their common symptoms below.

Common 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

How Can I Prevent a Kidney Infection?

The best and easiest prevention tactic is by starting and maintaining good habits. Things like staying adequately hydrated, not holding your urine and having proper genital hygiene will go a long way in lowering your risk of future kidney infections.

While these things are certainly helpful, some still will have a higher risk of kidney infections than others. We’ve listed some common risk factors below.

Common Risk Factors

• Being female. Women are more at risk than men for kidney infections because the urethra is shorter than it is in men. This makes it easier for bacteria to reach the urinary tract.
• Pregnancy. The urinary tract shifts in pregnancy and may make it easier for bacteria to get to the kidneys.
• Weakened immune system. This includes people with diabetes, HIV and AIDS, and those taking medications that suppress the immune system.
• Problems emptying your bladder completely, which is called urinary retention.

Are you concerned that you might have a kidney infection? Our AFC Urgent Care Greenwood team is here for you, so don’t wait to walk in to get the medical care you need today!