What To Do In Case Of Kidney Infections

      

Should One Worry In Case Of a kidney infection?

A kidney infection is a serious medical condition that requires quick ,adequate treatment. These infections usually start as a urinary track infection,(UTI),or a bladder infection which later spreads to affect one or both kidneys.

Symptoms might include:

• fever
• chills
• back or side pain
• groin pain
• abdominal pain
• nausea and vomiting
• frequent urination
• urine that’s cloudy, smells bad, or having blood

You may use home remedies together with your prescribed medical treatment to ease some symptoms and improve kidney health, but you shouldn’t try to treat yourself all alone. You have to always go to a doctor first, for diagnosis and to discuss treatment options.

When to seek immediate medical attention

UTIs are uncomfortable, but they do not require an immediate medical emergency. Some people make the mistake of assuming the UTI are same as kidney infection. 

Kidney infections are serious conditions and they do require medical consultation. Untreated, a kidney infection may quickly lead to long-term kidney damage or kidney scarring. These infections may also cause sepsis, which can cause shock.

For this reason, a kidney infection can lead to death if allowed to progress. Don’t take any chances by not seeking treatment by a medical professional.

Medical treatment

Antibiotics are usually the first line of defense against a kidney infection. If the kidney infection isn’t severe, your doctor could most likely give you oral antibiotics to take once or twice a day for 10 to 14 days. You mu

 should take the entire course of antibiotics, even when you feel better within several days. Your doctor will encourage you to drink a lot of water.

Severe kidney infections might require admission to the hospital. You’ll be given fluids and antibiotics intravenously through an IV, both of which may help treat the infection.

If you have reoccurring UTIs,that can expose you to increased risk of frequent kidney infections, your doctor can help you establish the cause of their frequency and help you prevent other infections from occurring.

Complementary treatments you can adopt at home

Some people prefer to treat medical conditions with home remedies or alternative remedies.

Because of the severity of kidney infections a, it’s important that you don’t rely on home remedies. Instead, you should observe the prescription antibiotics your doctor gives you and just use home remedies to help ease symptoms or pain. You may also use home remedies to avoid UTIs and improve kidney function.

1. Drink lots of water

      

Drinking a lot of water might help flush bacteria from the body, allowing the infection to be eliminated faster. It can also allow clear out the entire urinary system.

Drinking plenty of water may  also help to prevent UTIs that might lead to kidney infections, so it’s a good practice to observe. Try to drink a minimum of 8 glasses of fluids daily.

2. Drink cranberry juice

You can take cranberry juice, which has long been used as a remedy for UTIs and bladder infections. There are some evidence  that drinking cranberry juice could help or prevent UTIs in some people.

Many people prefer the sweet taste of cranberry juice to water, allowing them to drink more. However, cranberry juices full of added sweeteners may not be great for you. A cranberry supplement or pure cranberry juice is a healthier way to ensure the benefits of cranberries.

3. Abstain from alcohol and coffee

The kidneys’ most important role is to filter out harmful substances and toxins, and both alcohol and caffeine might require extra work from the kidneys. This can hinder the process of healing from an infection. Alcohol and antibiotics also shouldn't be mixed,this one more reason to avoid alcohol while under treatment.

4. Take Probiotics

Probiotics have two important benefits in the treatment of kidney infections. The first is that they’ll help keep your body’s healthy bacteria in check, even though the antibiotics might get rid of both “good” and “bad” bacteria.

Studies have shown that Probiotics may assist the kidneys in processing waste materials, and the better your kidneys are functioning, the more effective the treatment can be.

5. Get some vitamin C

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help protect tissues in the body from oxidative stress, which could automatically help promote kidney health. And anotherTrusted Source  research had showed that vitamin C could help prevent kidney scarring during acute kidney infection and boost the enzymes within the kidneys. You might take vitamin C supplement or foods dense in nutrients.

6. Try parsley juice

     

Parsley juice is a nutrient-dense diuretic Trustthat may increase the frequency and amount of urination. This may help flush out the bacteria in the kidneys faster, making antibiotics even more effective. If you don’t like the flavor of parsley outright, you might mix it into a smoothie with strong-flavored fruits, such as cranberries or blueberries for best results.

7. Take apples and apple juice

Apples are also nutrient-dense. Their high acid content might help the kidneys to keep acidity in the urine, possibly inhibiting further growth of bacteria. They also have antiinflammatory properties, which can be beneficial in helping the kidneys to heal the infection. 

8. Take an Epsom salt bath

   

Both Epsom salts and warm water could ease pain. This msy help to make the uncomfortable side effects of the kidney infection a little more tolerable while you wait for the antibiotics to act.

Since abdominal pain is sometimes a symptom of antibiotics, as well as kidney infections, this might also help even after symptoms from the kidney infection are resolved.

9. Use non-aspirin pain relievers

Non-aspirin pain relievers might help to relieve discomfort. Ibuprofen, including Motrin and Advil, as well as acetaminophen, (Tylenol) may also help control fevers caused by the infection.

10. Apply heat

While you wait for the antibiotics to start acting,you might use heat therapy to reduce pain. Apply a heating pad or hot water bottle to the affected spots, and continue doing it for about 20 minutes at a time.

Think Also about apple cider vinegar.

     

Apple cider vinegar is one of the most common home remedies, no matter what type of condition you’re trying to treat. It’s seen by some as a remedy for kidney infections, too, due to its antibacterial properties. That being said, there’s no evidence or research available that supports this practice.

 Baking soda Can Be Helpful

    

Baking Soda is at times used as a home remedy for kidney infections, with some believing that it can help detoxify the kidneys by allowing them to filter better. There’s no evidence to support this, either.

On the contrary, it could even be dangerous to attempt to use baking soda for this purpose. One 2013 study  showed that misuse of baking soda actually led to hospital admission for some people due to electrolyte imbalances, respiratory depression, or metabolic alkalosis.

To Summarize

Kidney infections are a serious condition that requires prompt,adequate treatment by a licensed professional with antibiotics. Home remedies might be used as a complementary treatment to help ease other symptoms, but make sure you see your doctor before using them to ensure they won’t interfere with your treatment.