Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Kidney Infection - Pyelonephritis
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
- View All
Treatment & Monitoring
What are the treatments for the infection?
A person is usually given antibiotics as soon as the diagnosis of a kidney infection seems likely. The most common antibiotics prescribed include:
A person with a severe infection may need to be hospitalized. Sometimes surgery is needed to correct a physical problem with the urinary tract.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
The side effects of antibiotics include stomach upset, rash, or allergic reaction. The side effects of surgery include bleeding, infection, or an allergic reaction to anesthesia.
What happens after treatment for the infection?
It is very important for the person to complete the full course of antibiotics. In some cases, a low dose of an antibiotic may be prescribed for a person to take continually to keep the infection from coming back.
Sometimes a person has many episodes of pyelonephritis in a short time period. Further testing may need to be done to rule out kidney disease or urinary tract abnormalities. Common tests include:
How is the infection monitored?
Follow-up urine cultures need to be done several weeks after the person is finished taking the antibiotics. This is important to make sure that the treatment has been effective. Untreated pyelonephritis can lead to very serious kidney damage. Any new or worsening symptoms should be reported to the healthcare provider.