Most urinary tract infections (UTI's) involve only the bladder and urethra which is the lower urinary system. Pyelonephritis results when a UTI progresses to involve the upper urinary system which is the kidneys and ureters. Bacteria enter the body from the skin around the urethra. They then travel up the urethra to the bladder and sometimes, bacteria escape the bladder and urethra, traveling up the ureters to one or both kidneys. Pyelonephritis is a potentially serious kidney infection that can spread to the blood, causing severe illness, but it is almost always curable with antibiotics. Since the urethra is shorter in females it makes them more vulnerable to UTI's and pyelonephritis.
Symptoms: Most women have experienced the discomfort with urination caused by a urinary tract infection: painful, urgent, or frequent urination. Pyelonephritis start with similar symptoms. However, once the infection has spread to the kidney, signs of more severe illness usually result. They include:
- Back pain or flank pain
- Fever (usually present) or chills
- Feeling sick (malaise)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Confusion (especially in the elderly)
Pyelonephritis may cause noticeable changes in the urine, such as:
- Blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- Pain when urinating
- Increased frequency or urgency of urination
Causes: It is usually caused by E. coli bacteria. The bacteria may have spread from the bladder or the urethra to one of the kidneys, infecting it. Other causes of kidney infections are sexual intercourse, pregnancy, kidney stones, catheters, poor hygiene and weakened immune systems. All these can cause bacteria to get into the bladder and urethra.
Some of your post is just white boxes. Fix it?
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