Kidney infection is a kind of infection in the urinary tract that generally begins in the tube carrying urine from your body or in the urinary bladder. Pyelonephritis is the medical term for it, and it may affect both kidneys or one. While doctors identify bacteria as the most obvious cause, your kidneys may get infected for several other reasons. If left untreated, severe kidney infection can result in irrecoverable damage and hence, knowing the causes, signs, and treatment options is crucial. So, what causes kidney infections in females and how can you minimize the chances of kidney infections? 

Here’s your guide to understanding kidney diseases so that you can keep your kidneys healthy.

Symptoms of Kidney Infection

Before we discuss how you can get a kidney infection, have a look at the signs and symptoms of a kidney infection so that you can seek medical help immediately:

  • Chills
  • An urge to urinate frequently 
  • Fever
  • Pain or a burning sensation when urinating
  • Groin pain
  • Diarrhea
  • Lower back ache
  • Blood or pus in the urine
  • Belly pain
  • Vomiting or nausea
  • Cloudy and smelly urine

The above-mentioned symptoms can also be indicative of kidney stones, kidney abscess, or enlarged prostate and so, going to a doctor will be wise.

What Causes Kidney Infections in Females

From UTI to kidney infection – let’s understand what external and internal factors are responsible for kidney infections in women.

1. Bacterial causes of kidney infection

Bacteria happen to be the most common causative agents of kidney infections. The following kinds of bacteria are held accountable:

  • E. coli
  • Enterobacter 
  • Proteus mirabilis
  • Staphylococcus

In some cases, kidney infection happens because of virus as well. 

2. Sexual activities

The chances of having kidney infections are higher in women who are sexually active than women who don’t engage in coitus regularly. When you are intimate with your partner, this makes it easier for bacteria present in the genital area to enter the urethra. The use of condoms that have a spermicidal coating also doubles the risk of UTIs in women.

3. Being a female 

Studies have revealed that the number of women having kidney infections is more than the number of men suffering from kidney problems. Is this merely a coincidence or is there some biological reason behind it? 

The urethral opening in women is close to the anus and the vagina. So, bacteria residing in these orifices can end up entering your urethral openings. Men don’t have this risk as their urethral opening is not close to the anus. Additionally, women have shorter urethras and so, the bacteria do not have to travel a long distance to reach the kidneys.

4. Usage of urinary catheter

One of the risk factors for kidney infection is using urinary catheters. Urinary catheters are basically tubes used for draining urine from the urinary bladder. When a patient is unable to urinate normally because of some sickness or after a surgery, catheters are used. This too can be one of female kidney infection causes.

5. Weak immunity

Several health conditions can weaken a person’s immunity. These include diabetes, cancer, HIV, and prolonged consumption of certain drugs. For women who have poor immunity, kidney infections are more probable.

6. Pregnancy

Many women have kidney infections when they are expecting a baby. During pregnancy, the female body undergoes various hormonal changes and even this can affect the functioning of the urinary tract. As the uterus keeps expanding, it exerts constant pressure on the person’s urinary system and so bladder infection is not uncommon during the second and third trimesters.

Kidney Infection Diagnosis

Doctors detect if a person has severe infection in the kidneys by performing these tests: 

  • Blood tests
  • Imaging tests
  • Urine tests 

Treatment for Kidney Infection

Timely kidney infection diagnosis and proper medical treatment is necessary to prevent permanent kidney damage or kidney failure. Delaying treatment can also lead to sepsis, a dangerous and life-threatening condition. Rapid breathing, rashes, fever, abnormal heart rate, and chills are the symptoms that indicate you may have sepsis.

So, how do healthcare providers treat chronic kidney infections in women? 

In most cases, hospitalization is not necessary. Doctors usually give antibiotic tablets for 7-14 days depending on the type of urinary tract infection. Once you start taking the medicines, you should feel better within a day or two. If the symptoms do not subside, you must inform your kidney specialist.

Tips to Prevent Kidney Infection 

Once your kidneys have recovered, making some lifestyle changes will help you restore the health of your kidneys and keep infections at bay. So, here are some home remedies for kidney infection prevention:

  1. When you wash or wipe your intimate areas after taking a dump, always do it from front to back. This way, the harmful bacteria cannot enter your urinary tract.
  2. When you have sexual intercourse, urinating after that will clear the bacteria from your urethra. This will stop the bacteria from spreading.
  3. Drinking sufficient fluids is essential as bacteria will get flushed out from your body when you urinate. 
  4. Delaying urinating shouldn’t become a habit.

The Bottom Line

So, if you experience any of the kidney infection symptoms, consult your healthcare provider. Don’t try to treat a kidney infection at home. Lastly, to reduce the risk of kidney issues, maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are the most common causes of kidney infections in females? 

Pregnancy, catheter use, urinary reflux, nerve injury, immunodeficiency, and bacterial attack are some of the main causes of infections and chronic kidney diseases in women.

Q. How can kidney infections in females be prevented and treated?

Drinking enough water, cleaning the genital area thoroughly after having sex, and avoiding using fragrant products in the genital area are some good practices for women to prevent and ease the symptoms of kidney infections.