No, they aren’t. Kidney infections are relatively rare, but they can wreak havoc on your body when left untreated.

Our AFC Urgent Care Clemson team provides further info on kidney infections below, so keep reading!

What Causes a Kidney Infection?

A kidney infection is most commonly caused by a bladder infection that spreads to one or both kidneys. Since kidney infections generally derive from a pre-existing bladder infection, it’s unlikely that you’ll experience one. However, some things can increase your risk, which we explain later.

You can also get a kidney infection after kidney surgery, but this is even more unlikely. If you start experiencing any of the symptoms that we’ve listed below, you likely have a kidney infection.

Common Kidney Infection Symptoms

• Fever
• Chills
• Back or side pain
• Groin pain
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Frequent urination
• Urine that’s cloudy, smells bad or contains blood

What Increases My Risk of Getting a Kidney Infection?

One of the most common risk factors is a UTI. About one in 30 UTIs leads to a future kidney infection.

We’ve listed a few more common risk factors below.

Common Kidney Infection Risk Factors

• Being female. Women are more at risk than men for kidney infections because a woman’s urethra is shorter than a man’s. This makes it easier for bacteria to reach the urinary tract.
• Pregnancy. The urinary tract shifts in pregnancy and may make it easier for bacteria to get to the kidneys.
• Weakened immune system. This includes people with diabetes, HIV or AIDS, and those taking medications that suppress the immune system.
• Problems emptying your bladder completely, which is called urinary retention.

If you believe you have a kidney infection, don’t wait to visit our AFC Urgent Care Clemson center ASAP to get the treatment you need to avoid further medical complications! We’re here for you now and always.