Pyelonephritis is a very unpleasant kidney infection caused by bacteria invading the main urine-producing area of the kidney (the parenchyma). If the infection is left untreated, it can become extremely painful and lead to the patient requiring urgent hospital admission for intravenous antibiotics and fluids to avoid sepsis developing.
Pyelonephritis can affect people of any age, however it is most commonly found in young women who are sexually active. The increased risk to women is thought to be linked to the fact they are generally more susceptible to bladder infections, known as cystitis. Occasionally, these can result in an ascending infection into the kidneys and pyelonephritis develops.
The treatment for this condition is a 10-14 day course of appropriate antibiotics after a urine culture has been taken from a mid-stream sample. If treated early, the patient can make a quick recovery. If, however, the start of treatment is delayed, the patient can become acutely unwell with a raised temperature, back pain, nausea and vomiting, and they may need admission to hospital.