Does pyelonephritis cause a fever?

Written by Pan Wu Shan
Nephrology
Updated on September 24, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
41sec home-news-image

How is pyelonephritis diagnosed?

Pyelonephritis is an upper urinary tract infection, with over 95% caused by bacterial infections in areas such as the renal pelvis and calyces, leading to inflammation. As a type of bacterial infection, if a patient's urine routine shows leukocytes and there is percussion pain in the renal area, along with fever, these symptoms combined with the urine examination can essentially lead to a diagnosis. However, a definitive diagnosis requires a culture of clean-catch midstream urine. If the bacteria in two consecutive urine cultures exceed 100,000 per milliliter and are the same type, the patient can be clearly diagnosed with pyelonephritis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
42sec home-news-image

What should I do if pyelonephritis recurs?

Pyelonephritis, also known as upper urinary tract infection, is an inflammatory reaction caused by bacterial infection of the urinary system. Therefore, in cases of recurrence of this condition, it is still necessary to use antibiotics for bactericidal treatment, generally requiring a full two-week course, choosing drugs with low nephrotoxicity. Additionally, it is important to investigate whether there are any complicating factors for pyelonephritis, such as the presence of diabetes, urinary system stones, tumors, or urinary tract anomalies. Identifying and addressing these complicating factors can reduce the likelihood of recurrence of pyelonephritis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
58sec home-news-image

Principles of treatment for pyelonephritis

Pyelonephritis, also known as an upper urinary tract infection, is a bacterial inflammation, with over 95% being caused by bacterial infections, among which 70% are caused by Escherichia coli. Therefore, as a bacterial infection-induced inflammation, antibiotic treatment is of course necessary. Clinically, third-generation cephalosporins or fluoroquinolone antibiotics are often chosen for bactericidal treatment. For acute pyelonephritis, it is generally recommended that medication be administered for 14 days, alongside measures such as increased water intake and frequent urination. In cases of chronic pyelonephritis, a low-dose, long-course antibacterial treatment, such as using nitrofurantoin, may also be employed, with continuous medication for two months. (Please consult a clinical doctor for specific medication use; do not self-medicate.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
58sec home-news-image

Is pyelonephritis easy to treat?

Most cases of pyelonephritis start acutely, with patients abruptly experiencing bacterial infections in their urinary system, causing inflammation in areas such as the renal pelvis and calyces. This manifests clinically with symptoms such as fever and back pain. This acute onset type is called acute pyelonephritis, and it is relatively easy to treat because it involves a bacterial infection that requires antibacterial treatment. Hence, it is generally manageable. However, if a patient's condition becomes prolonged and turns into chronic pyelonephritis, treatment may be more challenging. The bacteria causing chronic pyelonephritis are often drug-resistant, and this condition might be associated with predisposing factors for urinary infections, such as urinary system stones, anatomical abnormalities of the urinary tract, or obstructions that can conceal bacteria or contribute to their resistance, making treatment more difficult.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
1min 4sec home-news-image

The difference between pyelonephritis and nephritis

Pyelonephritis and nephritis are two completely different concepts. Pyelonephritis is actually a bacterial inflammation, usually caused by bacteria at the urethral opening ascending into the urinary system and causing inflammation in areas like the renal pelvis and calyces. Patients may experience symptoms such as fever, hematuria, and back pain. In severe cases, it can cause necrosis of the renal papillae, leading to acute renal failure. Some patients may also develop perinephric abscesses, which are caused by bacterial infections. Nephritis, on the other hand, refers to inflammation within the glomeruli. This type of inflammation does not involve bacteria and is related to disorders in the body’s immune function. The disordered immune response is aggressive, attacking the glomerular filtration barrier, leading to proteinuria and hematuria. Therefore, the mechanisms of disease and treatment methods for the two conditions are different.