Quick version
- Pyelonephritis is a kidney infection that often starts as a urinary tract infection.
- It can occur with or without fever.
- Common symptoms include pain in the side or back, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes blood in the urine.
- The infection is usually caused by bacteria that spread from the urinary tract to the kidneys.
- If a urinary tract infection is not treated, it can develop into pyelonephritis.
Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease
Pelvic inflammatory disease can occur with or without fever, but other common symptoms include pain in the side or back, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes blood in the urine.
How do you get pelvic inflammatory disease?
The infection is usually caused by bacteria ascending from the bladder to one or both kidneys. Most common urinary tract infections (cystitis) do not spread to the kidneys, but in some cases – especially if the bacteria are more aggressive or if there is an obstruction in the urinary tract – a deeper infection can develop.
What does pyelonephritis feel like?
In addition to fever, the condition can feel like intense pain in the back or side, often accompanied by a general feeling of illness and discomfort when urinating.
Difference between pyelonephritis and urinary tract infection?
Urinary tract infection (UTI) usually affects only the urethra and bladder, with symptoms such as burning when urinating and frequent urges without affecting the general condition. Pyelonephritis is a more serious infection that involves the kidney tissue itself. It usually causes a higher fever, chills and pain in the lower back or side, and always needs to be treated with antibiotics to prevent complications.
If your doctor suspects that you have pyelonephritis, you may need to have a blood test. This blood test is called CRP test or C-reactive protein test, because the results come quickly. In pyelonephritis, the CRP value increases rapidly, which can confirm ongoing inflammation.
