Pyelonephritis In Children

Pyelonephritis, a kidney infection, usually caused by Escherichia coli, a type of bacteria found in the large intestine. Being more common in women than in men, the infection made its way into the genital area through the urethra to the bladder, ureters, then affects the kidneys.
We know that if a person has any physical barriers to the flow of urine, such as a kidney stone, enlarged prostate, or reflux of urine from the bladder into the ureter, it is very likely the risk of pyelonephritis upward.
Blood flow can also be a source of infection. If a person has a different body part infected, the blood can carry the infection to the kidneys.

There are certain categories of people who are at greater risk of developing pyelonephritis. Pregnancy causes the ureters to dilate and reduces the muscle contractions that push urine through the ureters into the bladder. In this way, the risk of reflux of urine increases. Also an obstacle to that part of the normal flow of urine can occur because the enlarged uterus puts pressure on the ureters. People with weakened immune systems or who suffer from diabetes have a high risk of developing pyelonephritis.

Persons with pyelonephritis may experience painful urination, although contraction of the muscles of the abdomen, one or both kidneys may be enlarged and tender, and the symptoms of cystitis may also appear. Usually, pyelonephritis starts suddenly with a pain in the lower back on each side, fever, chills, nausea and vomiting, but very often in children, these symptoms are mild and difficult to recognize.

It may appear chronic pyelonephritis in people with major underlying abnormalities such as reflux of urine from the bladder to the ureters, large kidney stones that still exist, or urinary tract obstruction. The chronic pyelonephritis may have vague symptoms, fever may come and go easily, or he may not even happen and pain does not cause a lot of waiting.

If the doctor believes the patient has pyelonephritis, it will test to see if the kidney is infected. A urine sample will be required by the patient and the doctor will examine this sample to determine which bacteria is present. The doctor may conduct blood tests to ascertain if there are bacteria or white blood cells are elevated in the blood.
Sometimes it is necessary further tests, for example if the patient does not respond to antibiotic treatment within 48 hours if there is a back pain of renal colic, or if, after treatment is completed, the return of symptoms in a short time.
The doctor will perform the ultrasound or x-ray studies, and may reveal structural abnormalities, or kidney stones, or other causes of urinary obstruction.

When the doctor suspects that the patient has pyelonephritis, he requested a urine sample and perform a blood test, and send to laboratory tests. Immediately, he will begin treatment with antibiotics, but treatment may change after the lab results are ready.
If the patient has no nausea or vomiting, no signs of dehydration, fever or chills, treatment with oral antibiotics may be successful. Otherwise, the patient was treated at the hospital, the injection of intravenous antibiotics. After one ore two days, treatment may be connected with antibiotics administered orally.
Antibiotic treatment may continue for two to six weeks to prevent recurrence of infection. After this, a urine sample is taken, to see if the infection has disappeared for good.

We do not know which is the ideal duration of such treatment, but if the infection returns, the drugs will continue indefinitely.

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