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How many days does it take for kidney infection to go away?

After taking antibiotics, you should feel completely better after about two weeks. In rare cases, a kidney infection can cause further problems. These include blood poisoning (sepsis) and a build-up of pus in the kidney called an abscess.

nhsinform.scot - Kidney infection - Illnesses & conditions - NHS inform

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A kidney infection (pyelonephritis) is a painful and unpleasant illness caused by bacteria travelling from your bladder into one or both of your kidneys. It's more serious than cystitis, a common infection of the bladder that makes urinating painful. If treated promptly, a kidney infection doesn't cause serious harm, but will make you feel very unwell. If a kidney infection isn't treated, it can get worse and cause permanent kidney damage. Symptoms of a kidney infection often come on within a few hours. You can feel feverish, shivery, sick and have a pain in your back or side.

When to see your GP

See your GP if you have a fever and persistent tummy, lower back or genital pain, or if you notice a change to your usual pattern of urination. Most kidney infections need prompt treatment with antibiotics to stop the infection from damaging the kidneys or spreading to the bloodstream. You may also need painkillers. If you're especially vulnerable to the effects of an infection – for example, if you have a pre-existing health condition or are pregnant, you may be admitted to hospital and treated with antibiotics through an intravenous drip.

After taking antibiotics, you should feel completely better after about two weeks.

In rare cases, a kidney infection can cause further problems. These include blood poisoning (sepsis) and a build-up of pus in the kidney called an abscess.

What causes a kidney infection?

A kidney infection usually happens when bacteria – often a type called E. coli – gets into the urethra (the tube which carries urine out of the body) and travels up through the bladder and into the kidneys.

Who's at risk?

Kidney infections are relatively rare. It's estimated that one in every 830 people develops a kidney infection each year in the UK. They can happen at any age, but are much more common in women. In fact, women are six times more likely to get a kidney infection than men. This is because a woman's urethra is shorter, making it easier for bacteria to reach the kidneys. Younger women are most at risk because they tend to be more sexually active, and having frequent sex increases the chances of getting a kidney infection. Younger children are also vulnerable to developing kidney infections because they may be born with an abnormality of the urinary tract or have a condition called vesico-ureteric reflux, where there is a backflow of urine from the bladder up to the kidneys.

Can kidney infections be prevented?

You can reduce your chances of developing a kidney infection by keeping your bladder and urethra free from bacteria. This can include drinking plenty of fluids, keeping your genitals clean and treating any constipation.

Can you recover if your kidneys are failing?

While there is no cure for kidney failure, with treatment it's possible to live a long life. Recovery from kidney failure varies, depending on whether the condition is chronic or acute: Acute kidney failure (AKF) usually responds well to treatment, and kidney function often returns to almost normal.

medicinenet.com - Can a Person Recover From Kidney Failure? Treatment - MedicineNet

In addition to physical examination and medical history, tests that are used to diagnose kidney failure include:

How is kidney failure diagnosed?

How is kidney failure treated?

Treatment options vary and depend on the cause and extent of the disease. Acute renal failure: Cause of the disease is treated to normalize kidney function. Dialysis may be needed for a short time. Cause of the disease is treated to normalize kidney function. Dialysis may be needed for a short time. Chronic renal failure: Treating chronic medical conditions can slow the progression of kidney failure. However, once the kidneys fail completely, treatment options are limited to dialysis or a kidney transplant. Options for treatment include treating the cause of renal failure and replacing renal function:

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How many days does it take for kidney infection to go away?

What time should adults stop eating at night?

What happens if you eat 30 minutes before bed?

When to see your GP

After taking antibiotics, you should feel completely better after about two weeks.

What causes a kidney infection?

Who's at risk?

Can kidney infections be prevented?

Read more about preventing a kidney infection

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