“Does a UTI affect your kidneys?”
I was diagnosed with a UTI. Does a UTI affect your kidneys?
8 Answers
Yes, it can. UTI stands for urinary tract infection. Urinary tract includes urethra, ureter and kidneys. If left untreated, the infection can spread up into your kidneys, which can be serious, and life threatening.
If urine tract infection remains limited to the urinary bladder, it does not affect kidney function. However, if the infection reaches the kidneys, a condition called Pyelonephritis, can have some impact on the kidneys.
If it becomes Chronic yes
UTI is an abbreviation that stands for urinary tract infection. Since the urinary tract includes the kidneys and bladder and also the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder, called ureters, and the tube that empties the bladder, called the urethra, infection of any of these areas could be called UTI. However, the most common area to be infected is the bladder (called “cystitis“). This is so much more common than other areas of infection that cystitis has become essentially synonymous with UTI, although that is technically not quite correct. As long as the infection is isolated to the bladder, the kidneys are not affected. Kidney infection (called pyelonephritis) does occur, but it’s rare In comparison.
UTI refers to the entire urinary tract. If your infection is localized in your bladder or urethra, it shouldn’t bother your kidneys. If the infection is located in your kidneys, it is generally able to be cleared with antibiotic without lingering problems to your kidneys. If you have a kidney abnormality or get recurring kidney infections, yes, your kidneys will be impacted.
Usually a simple UTI of the urinary bladder does not affect the kidneys. However Severe UTI that involves the kidney and is called pyelonephritis would affect the kidney. The latter is associated with flank pain, high grade fever and possibly bacteria in the blood. Finally if UTI in children is associated with reflux problems, it could affect the kidney with infection and disease.
Recurrent UTI can cause scarring and fibrosis of kidneys.
Kidneys are the highest level of the UT (urinary tract). Any infection if not properly handled can travel your urinary tract and eventually reach the kidneys.
