Kidney Infection vs Urinary Tract Infection

It hits you out of nowhere. A sudden and powerful urge to go that has you making a fast beeline for the bathroom. Except when you get there, it’s not the relief you were expecting. Just intermittent drips that are painful to pass.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are pretty hard to miss. But knowing which type of UTI you have isn’t always so clear. Because your urinary tract – kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra – is seamlessly connected, it can be hard to pinpoint the source of your problem. Is it your kidneys or your bladder that’s making bathroom time such a burden?

UTIs Vs. Kidney Infections

As the name suggests, a urinary tract infection is an infection in one or more areas of your urinary system. UTIs occur when unwanted bacteria enters into your urinary tract and begin to multiply. They are most common in the lower urinary tract: the bladder (cystitis) and the urethra (urethritis).

Kidney infections are actually a type of UTI. They typically occur when a lower UTI is left untreated, allowing the bacteria to spread upward and infect the kidneys. Kidney infections are the most serious type of UTI and can cause serious complications without fast and proper treatment.

Causes

Most UTIs are caused by E.Coli bacteria, which lives in your bowel. That’s why they occur more commonly in women than in men; they have a shorter urethra that’s closer to the anus, which makes it easier for E.Coli to enter the urinary tract.

Other common causes of lower UTIs include:

Sexual activity
Intermittent catheters
The use of spermicides, douches, or diaphragms
Poor hygiene

Most kidney infections are a progression of lower UTIs, but they can have other causes. They may be caused by a blockage in the urinary tract, such as by a kidney stone or an enlarged prostate. In rare cases, they may result from bacteria elsewhere in the body spreading to the kidneys.

Symptoms

UTI symptoms can appear differently based on the location of your infection. A UTI in your lower urinary tract can cause:

A frequent and powerful urge to urinate
Low urine output
Pain or burning during urination
Cloudy or bloody urine
Foul-smelling urine
Abdominal pain

Kidney infections may present with all or none of the above symptoms. Specific symptoms that can indicate your infection has reached the kidneys include:

Fever
Chills
Lower back pain, sometimes severe
Nausea and vomiting

Diagnosis and Treatment

Your doctor can determine if you have a UTI or a kidney infection by reviewing your symptoms, analyzing a urine sample, and ordering certain blood tests. They may also order imaging studies or other tests to monitor your kidney function.

UTIs and kidney infections are treated with antibiotics. Courses typically last for 3-14 days, depending on which type of antibiotic is prescribed. Always finish the full course of medication, even if your symptoms go away.

You can also take steps to prevent UTIs and kidney infections. These include: