Question 1

what are the differences between a urinary tract infection and a kidney infection? what symptoms are different?

Accepted Answer

UTI: "uti" includes all types of infections in the urinary tract.  Cystitis is specifically a term describing inflammation of the bladder. Most often cystitis, although quit irritating, does not cause systemic symptoms such as fever, body aches etc.   Pyelonephritis (also a uti) on the other hand is an infection of the kidney causing significant systemic  symptoms.

Question 2

can you have a kidney infection without having a urinary tract infection?

Accepted Answer

Kidney infection: Kidneys are part of your urinary tract. Urinary tract infection is a generic term for an infection that may involve the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.

Question 3

how do you know if you have a kidney infection or a urinary tract infection ?

Accepted Answer

UTI: Kidney infections are more serious and cause fever, chills, flank pain and cloudy urine classically. Bladder infections usually cause urinary frequency and  burning and at times there can be blood in the urine. Cultures are done to document infection and identify the offending organism.

Question 4

advice for an at home remedy for urinary tract infection that is a possible kidney infection?

Accepted Answer

Med eval now: I believe in some  home remedies but if you are developing possible pyelonephritis, i strongly encourage you seek standard  medical care asap.

Question 5

how can you tell you have a kidney infection? i think i may have one. what are the signs/symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Frequency, fever: Frequency, fever, chill, pain, change in urine color, smell.......At the beginning. Flank pain, nausea, weakness, hematuria, pus in urine, not able to pass urine.......

Question 6

how can you tell if you have a kidney infection?what are some symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Kidney infection: Generally, fever and severe flank pain are the hallmarks of pyelonephritis.  Muscle aches and nausea are also sometimes present.

Question 7

should i go to the emergency room if i think i have a kidney infection and am hurting really badly or can i wait and see my dr. i first noticed the symptoms last weekend and it has progressively been getting worse all week

Accepted Answer

You : You should call your doctor and discuss your symptoms and see how soon you can be seen.  If you are having fever, chills, severe back pain, nausea or vomiting, you may need to proceed to the emergency room if your doctor cannot see you within the next few hours.

Question 8

is it possible to have a kidney infection, w/out a bladder infection? i have all uti symptoms, left lower back pain and 2 cultures come back negative.

Accepted Answer

Need to look for an: Other reason for pain: urine cultures would be positive with kidney infection, with or without the bladder being involved. If two cultures were negative when you were not on antibiotics, then please discuss with your doctor to consider other causes of pain.

Question 9

found out that i have a possible kidney infection, was told if my symptoms got worse to go to the er.?

Accepted Answer

RU on antibiotics: You should be on appropriate antibiotic therapy. Hope urine culture was taken & you were started on a broad spectrum antibiotic which achieve good tissue levels, such as Cipro (ciprofloxacin) or bactrim, whilst culture is growing. Yes you should go to er if symptoms of fever or flank pain worsen or you start vomiting. Will also need a work up if you do in fact have a kidney infection. Will then need IV antibiotic.

Question 10

i am having pain on my right side and mid/lower back when i lay down. i previously had a kidney infection in nov. could this be one? no other symptoms

Accepted Answer

Probably not a uti: Generally kidney infections give pain most of the time and have other urinary symptoms such as burning, frequency, etc and also may have fever. However would recommend at least a urinalysis to check it out further.

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Doctor answers about:

Can you have a kidney infection with no urinary symptoms

A member asked:

What are the differences between a urinary tract infection and a kidney infection? what symptoms are different?

A member asked:

Can you have a kidney infection without having a urinary tract infection?

A member asked:

How do you know if you have a kidney infection or a urinary tract infection ?

A member asked:

Advice for an at home remedy for urinary tract infection that is a possible kidney infection?

A member asked:

How can you tell you have a kidney infection? i think i may have one. what are the signs/symptoms?

A member asked:

How can you tell if you have a kidney infection?what are some symptoms?

A member asked:

Should i go to the emergency room if i think i have a kidney infection and am hurting really badly or can i wait and see my dr. i first noticed the symptoms last weekend and it has progressively been getting worse all week

A member asked:

Is it possible to have a kidney infection, w/out a bladder infection? i have all uti symptoms, left lower back pain and 2 cultures come back negative.

A member asked:

Found out that i have a possible kidney infection, was told if my symptoms got worse to go to the er.?

A member asked:

I am having pain on my right side and mid/lower back when i lay down. i previously had a kidney infection in nov. could this be one? no other symptoms

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