Uti warning: three ways to prevent a kidney infection


Uti warning: three ways to prevent a kidney infection

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A kidney infection - medically known as pyelonephritis - is a painful and unpleasant condition. It is caused by bacteria, often a E. coli, travelling from your bladder into one or both of


your kidneys, according to the NHS. While the symptoms can be similar, it is a more serious illness than cystitis - an infection of the bladder that can make urinating painful. In the case


of kidney infections, signs can also include feeling feverish, shivery, sick and with a pain in your back or side. These symptoms can come on within a few hours. Further signs may develop


over a few days, including being sick, losing your appetite and diarrhoea. Cloudy or foul smelling urine containing blood can also happen to sufferers if they have cystitis or urethritis -


an infection of the urethra - at the same time. If treated quickly, the kidney infections shouldn’t cause serious harm. But if ignored it can worsen and lead to permanent kidney damage. In


rare cases it cmay lead to a kidney abscess, blood poisoning, a severe infection called emphysematous pyelonephritis, and kidney failure. These are three ways you can avoid suffering in the


first place. CRANBERRIES Many people traditionally turn to cranberry juice if they are suffering from a urinary tract infection (UTI), which includes an infection of the kidneys. However,


research published last year in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology found that the juice doesn’t work. What they did find is that the fruit in a different form, - cranberry


extract - did lower the risk of UTIs by 50 per cent. TOP 10 FACTS ABOUT KIDNEYS GETTY UTI warning: You should never hold urine in STAY HYDRATED Drinking plenty of fluids, like water, can


help wash bacteria from your bladder and urinary tract. Additionally, according to the NHS, this can also reduce risk of constipation. Indeed, struggling to pass stools can increase your


risk of developing a UTI. TOILET HYGIENE To keep your urinary tract free from bacteria the NHS recommend going to the toilet as soon as you feel the urge to urinate, and not holding it in.


You should also wipe from front to back after going to the toilet, wash your genitals everyday and empty your bladder after having sex.