Kidney infections are caused by an overabundance of germs in the kidney. Another name for it is Pyelonephritis. Kidney infections can be serious enough to necessitate hospitalization, so home treatments are usually insufficient to treat them.
Because kidney infections have the greatest potential to harm the kidneys and spread to other parts of the body, they are often the most serious of all urinary tract infections (UTIs). Other UTIs can affect the bladder, ureters, or urethra, but they are less likely to cause harm.
Antibiotics are usually required to control the bacterial overgrowth that causes the condition. Home remedies, in addition to these, may aid in the body’s ability to remove the kidney infection as rapidly as feasible.
If someone feels they have a kidney infection, they should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
When to consult your doctor
If you experience any of the following signs of a possible kidney infection, you should consult a doctor immediately.
- a fever of more than 103 ℉
- In the urine, there is blood or pus, a thick white or yellow liquid.
- they are unable to keep fluids down due to acute vomiting.
If a person has a history of kidney disease or stones, they should seek medical help right away to avoid further kidney damage.
The following are signs that a person should see their doctor as soon as possible if they suspect they have a kidney infection:
- foul smelling urine
- frequent urination
- nausea
- Is it safe to use home remedies?
- a burning sensation when urinating
- chills
- flank pain, or pain in the sides or back
If a person’s symptoms worsen while taking medications to treat a UTI, they should seek medical attention. This could indicate that their infection has spread to their kidneys.
Is it safe to use home remedies?
It is not a good idea to treat kidney infections with only home treatments.
A person will need antibiotics to treat a kidney infection since it can cause severe symptoms and lead to kidney damage.
Home treatments, on the other hand, can help a person’s recovery and lower the chances of a recurrence of the kidney infection.
Before using any supplements as a home remedy, a person should see their doctor to ensure that they will not interact with any other prescriptions they are currently taking.
Symptom-relieving remedies
Some home treatments and self-care practises that may help minimise kidney infection symptoms are as follows:
Drink plenty of water
When a person has a kidney infection, flushing bacteria from the kidneys is important. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, drinking at least six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day can assist.
If a person has kidney failure, their doctor may advise them to reduce the amount of fluid they drink.
Consume cranberry juice
Some specialists disagree with the premise of drinking cranberry juice to improve kidney health. However, some research suggests that cranberry juice may assist to reduce the quantity of bacteria in the body when a person has a urinary tract infection (UTI).
Mice with UTIs who drank cranberry juice had lower bacterial counts in their urinary tract, according to a 2018 study published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology.
The researchers hypothesised that acids found in cranberry juice, such as malic, citric, and quinic acid, protect the urinary system.
Rest
While this cure may appear simple, it has advantages. After a kidney infection, getting lots of rest assists the body to mend.
Use warm, moist heat
Applying a heating pad or a warm water bottle to the area of flank pain might assist to relieve pain and relax irritated nerves.
To prevent the risk of burns, a person should always cover the burning object with a cloth. They should only use heat for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
Heating pads can be found in stores and on the internet.
Drink green tea or take green tea extract
Green tea extract may have an antimicrobial effect on common bacteria strains that cause UTIs, according to a 2013 study published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology.
Green tea extracts were administered to bacterial cells in the lab by the researchers. They discovered that green tea suppressed bacterial development over time.
It’s difficult to say whether the outcomes would be the same in humans because the study was conducted in a lab with samples. Green tea may, however, provide health benefits when a person has a urinary tract infection (UTI).
Green tea extract can be found in stores.
Use non-aspirin pain medications instead of aspirin.
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen can help with a kidney infection’s fever and discomfort.
Aspirin is a blood thinner that might cause high blood levels in a person’s urine, therefore it’s better to avoid it.
If a person is unsure whether or not they can use an over-the-counter pain treatment, they should consult their physician.
Effectiveness
A kidney infection cannot be cured alone with home treatments.
If a person suspects they have a kidney infection, they should consult a doctor for an antibiotic prescription.
Treatments with medicine
In order to treat a kidney infection, doctors will usually prescribe antibiotics. If a person’s symptoms are severe, they may need to be admitted to the hospital for intravenous antibiotics.
Even if they are feeling better, a person should always finish their antibiotic course. This may help to prevent the infection from returning.
If a person has recurrent kidney infections, a doctor may need to examine them further to determine the cause.
Some men, for example, may have an enlarged prostate, which can clog the urinary path and allow bacteria to grow more easily. Others may have a kidney stone that is preventing urine flow.
To address any underlying condition contributing to recurrent kidney infections, doctors may prescribe medications or suggest surgical procedures.
Sources:
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2017.00542/full
- http://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-disease/kidney-problems/kidney-infection.html
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2013.00162/full
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325887
- https://www.urologyhealth.org/urologic-conditions/kidney-(renal)-infection-pyelonephritis
