This article was co-authored by Zora Degrandpre, ND. Dr. Zora Degrandpre is a Natural Health Doctor and Licensed Naturopathic Physician in Vancouver, Washington. She is a grant reviewer for the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She received her ND from the National College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
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A kidney infection is a type of urinary tract infection that settles in one or both kidneys. It usually starts in the urethra or bladder and works its way up into the kidneys. This sounds scary, but fortunately, these infections are easy to treat with antibiotics and should clear up without any lasting problems. However, they definitely require medical treatment. Some natural remedies can prevent the infection from getting worse and complement the treatment you’re receiving, but they won’t cure the infection on their own. Together, medication and lifestyle treatments can heal your infection in no time.
Steps
Seeing Your Doctor
While kidney infections are easy to treat, they can be serious if left untreated. Without medical treatment, they can cause permanent scarring and other damage to your kidneys, so you definitely need to see a doctor as soon as possible. Don’t panic though – a round of antibiotics is all you need in most cases. After seeing your doctor, you can try other natural lifestyle remedies to complement your medical treatment.
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1Contact your doctor if you’re showing signs of a kidney infection. Common symptoms include pain in your lower back, abdomen, or genitals, frequent urination and trouble emptying your bladder, burning sensation when urinating, cloudy or discolored urine, blood in your urine, and a fever or chills. These could indicate a kidney or bladder infection, so see your doctor as soon as possible.[1]
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2Have a urine culture to confirm that you have an infection. At your appointment, the doctor will take a urine sample and test it for evidence of a kidney or bladder infection. This is a routine test.[2]
- In some cases, your doctor may do a CT scan or ultrasound of your kidneys or bladder to check for inflammation.
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3Take antibiotics as directed if your doctor prescribes them. A 3-7-day course of antibiotics is the most common treatment for kidney infections and usually clears the infection up. Make sure you finish the entire course of antibiotics before stopping.[3]
- If your doctor is sure you have a kidney infection, then they’ll probably prescribe the antibiotics before your test results come back.
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4Avoid taking pain relievers unless your doctor recommends them. Your kidneys may not be able to properly process these medications with an active infection. Unless your doctor tells you it’s safe, don’t take any pain relievers until the infection clears up.[4]
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5See a kidney specialist if you experience recurrent infections. Most people won’t get another kidney infection once their current infection clears up, but some people are more susceptible than others to repeat infections. If you’ve had more than 1 kidney infection, then your doctor will probably refer you to a kidney specialist for further treatment.[5]
Effective Natural Treatments
After you see your doctor for treatment, there are a number of natural remedies you can use while you recover. They can prevent the infection from getting worse and make you more comfortable while you wait for the antibiotics to work. In fact, your doctor will probably recommend that you do most of these things to improve your condition. The important thing to remember is that these remedies won’t cure the infection on their own, and you still need to see a doctor first. Afterward, take these steps to help relieve your symptoms.
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1Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Consistent hydration helps flush bacteria out of your kidneys and bladder to clear the infection. Drink 8-10 glasses of water per day, enough so your urine is light yellow and you don’t feel thirsty.[6]
- Dehydration is very serious if you have a kidney infection, so go to the hospital if your urine is very dark, your mouth and lips are dry, and you feel faint or overly fatigued.
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2Urinate as soon as you feel the urge to. Holding in your urine causes bacteria to build up in your bladder. Make sure you go as soon as you feel the urge to.[7]
- This is also an important way to prevent future infections. Don’t hold in your urine unless you have to.
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3Empty your bladder entirely every time you urinate. This is another important way to prevent bacteria from building up. Try to push a bit and make sure your bladder is empty before you finish urinating.[8]
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4Rest so your body can fight the infection. Fatigue can depress your immune system, so make sure you get plenty of rest. This way, your body will fight the infection much better.[9]
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5Press a heating pad onto your back to help relieve the pain. Wrap a heating pad or hot water bottle in a towel and press it onto any sore spots for 15-20 minutes at the time. This can relieve your discomfort while your body fights the infection.[10]
- You could also take a hot bath or shower and focus the water onto the sore spots.
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6Avoid coffee, tea, and alcohol until your symptoms clear. These drinks can all give you a frequent urge to urinate, which could be very uncomfortable while you’re fighting an infection.[11]
Medical Takeaways
Kidney infections, while they’re easy to cure, are potentially-serious and you shouldn’t try to treat them by yourself. If you think you have a kidney infection, then the first thing you should do is call your doctor and have an exam. Your doctor will probably write you an antibiotic prescription, so take the medication exactly as you’re directed to. However, you can support your treatment with a number of natural remedies. While they won’t cure the infection by themselves, they can make you more comfortable and relieve your symptoms while you wait for the medication to work. With the right treatment, your infection should clear up without any lasting problems.
References
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353387
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-infection/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353393
- ↑ https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/kidney-infection-pyelonephritis/treatment
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-infection/treatment/
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-infection/treatment/
- ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-infection/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353393
- ↑ https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/kidney-infection-pyelonephritis/treatment
- ↑ https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/kidney-infection-pyelonephritis/treatment
- ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-infection/treatment/
About This Article
If you have a kidney infection, you should visit your doctor for antibiotics, as this can be a dangerous condition if not treated properly. While you’re taking your medication, you can treat your symptoms naturally. Apply a heating pad to your side and back for about 15 minutes several times a day to help relieve your pain. Drink as much water as you can to flush the bacteria out of your kidneys, and avoid coffee and alcohol, as these can irritate the bladder and increase dehydration. Read on for tips from our naturopathy reviewer on medical treatments for a kidney infection!
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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