Can pyelonephritis lead to pregnancy?

Written by Pan Wu Shan

Nephrology

Updated on September 23, 2024

00:00

00:00

Pyelonephritis is actually a urinary tract infection. It is not the same as nephritis, so do not confuse the two. Thus, pregnancy is completely feasible for someone with pyelonephritis; as long as the infection is treated, the urine test shows negative results, and there are no white blood cells, pregnancy can occur without any impact. Currently, the treatment for pyelonephritis is anti-infection therapy. Since the bacteria have entered the kidney via the urethra, this treatment needs to last for two weeks. If the treatment duration is insufficient, there could be a recurrence of pyelonephritis. Additionally, it is important to drink plenty of water, urinate frequently, avoid holding urine, consume more than 2500 milliliters of water daily, and maintain a light diet avoiding spicy and irritating foods.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Zhou Qi

Nephrology

59sec

home-news-image

How to diagnose pyelonephritis?

For the diagnosis of pyelonephritis, it is first necessary to confirm the diagnosis. Generally, patients should first undergo routine urine tests. In these tests, the presence of white blood cells and positive nitrites, along with clinical symptoms such as back pain, blood in urine, and fever are common. A routine blood test often shows elevated white blood cells and C-reactive protein. These indicators together suggest the presence of pyelonephritis. Furthermore, a culture of a clean-catch midstream urine sample can be done. If the bacteria grow to a certain quantity, it can also help in confirming the diagnosis of pyelonephritis. Additionally, to assess complications associated with pyelonephritis, it is necessary to perform blood tests for kidney function and an ultrasound of the urinary system to rule out conditions such as acute renal failure, renal papillary necrosis, and perinephric abscess, among others.

home-news-image

Written by Zhou Qi

Nephrology

1min 10sec

home-news-image

How is pyelonephritis caused?

Pyelonephritis can also be referred to as an upper urinary tract infection. It occurs when bacteria proliferate in parts of the kidney such as the renal pelvis and calyces, leading to inflammation. In most cases, these bacteria enter the urinary system retrogradely from the urethral opening and cause inflammation in areas like the renal pelvis and calyces. Normally, bacteria are already present at the urethral opening, and when the body's immune system is functioning well and the urinary system is unobstructed, it is difficult for these bacteria to enter the urinary system and cause an inflammatory response. However, in patients with weakened immune systems, such as those suffering from a cold, diabetes, or those using steroid medications, bacteria may enter the urinary system and replicate in large numbers. Additionally, if there are obstructive factors in the urinary system, such as prostate enlargement in male patients, or if the patient has urinary system stones or tumors, bacteria are more likely to cause an inflammatory response.

home-news-image

Written by Zhou Qi

Nephrology

58sec

home-news-image

Is pyelonephritis easy to treat?

Pyelonephritis is generally not difficult to treat. Because the condition often appears quite aggressive, it is caused by bacteria entering the urinary system through the urethra, leading to an inflammatory response. Therefore, the primary treatment involves using antibiotics to kill the bacteria. Most of the bacteria causing pyelonephritis are Gram-negative rods, so antibiotics sensitive to Gram-negative rods are often chosen. After a treatment course of 10-14 days, the patient's condition is generally controllable and curable. However, there are also a few cases of chronic pyelonephritis, involving complex factors related to urinary tract infections, such as urinary tract malformations, urinary system stones, prostate hyperplasia, diabetes, etc., which make treatment more difficult. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

home-news-image

Written by Zhou Qi

Nephrology

1min 7sec

home-news-image

Can pyelonephritis be cured?

Whether pyelonephritis can be cured mainly depends on whether the patient has predisposing factors for urinary tract infections. These factors primarily include: Firstly, abnormalities in the anatomical structure of the urinary tract that may lead to obstruction of urine excretion, such as urological system stones, tumors, prolonged indwelling catheters, congenital abnormalities of the urinary system, and others. Additionally, there are some conditions that may lead to a decreased immune response, such as elderly individuals who are bedridden, those with diabetes, or patients using immunosuppressants. If the aforementioned factors are present, treatment of such cases of pyelonephritis might be challenging, with patients possibly experiencing recurrent episodes and potentially progressing to chronic pyelonephritis, eventually becoming difficult to cure completely. However, if none of these factors exist, the majority of cases with simple acute pyelonephritis can be cured and controlled by medication.

home-news-image

Written by Pan Wu Shan

Nephrology

1min 8sec

home-news-image

Does pyelonephritis cause a fever?

Pyelonephritis is actually a part of urinary tract infections, which are divided into cystitis and acute pyelonephritis. The main symptoms of cystitis are frequent urination, urgency, and painful urination, among other urinary irritative symptoms, and these do not involve fever. However, if cystitis is not treated in time, it can worsen into acute pyelonephritis, which then presents with symptoms such as fever and back pain. The fever with acute pyelonephritis can be quite high, often exceeding 38 or 39 degrees Celsius, and might last for two to three days. At this point, treatment requires anti-infective medications, which should be continued for two weeks without any interruption. If the treatment duration is insufficient, pyelonephritis may recur. It is important to drink plenty of water, urinate frequently, and avoid holding in urine. Drinking lots of water can help flush out bacteria from the urine early on, promoting a quicker recovery from the illness.