A kidney infection occurs when bacteria enters the urinary tract and travels to the kidney. Kidney infections are painful and require pain-relief medication and antibiotic therapy. Your doctor will perform tests to determine why you obtained a kidney infection. Eating foods like yogurt, which contains antioxidants and probiotics, can help prevent a kidney infection from recurring.
Flank Pain
Flank pain is triggered by inflamed kidneys, which is caused by the infection. The pain will occur in the lower sides of your mid-back and will feel dull. Alternating heat with ice will help relieve some of the discomfort.
Fever and Malaise
A kidney infection will cause you to feel tired and you will have a fever greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit. Your doctor will suggest over-the-counter fever reducers. She will also run tests of your urine to determine the type of bacterial infection and prescribe antibiotics.
Drinking Fluids
Drinking fluids and resting will help reduce the fever and ease the kidney infection. Painful urination and burning discomfort occurs with kidney infections. Drinking fluids will ease this discomfort and help you to urinate. Your body needs extra fluids to flush out the infection and to keep you hydrated because of the fever. Drinking a liter of water daily helps dilute toxins and helps your kidneys to function better.
Yogurt
Yogurt is made by the incubation of whole and skim milk, and contains live bacteria known as cultures. The bacteria cultures remain friendly and are called probiotics. Probiotics contain antioxidants, which strengthen your immune system against infections. Antibiotic therapy causes your digestive tract to lose valuable bacteria, which helps in digestion. If you take antibiotics for a kidney infection, probiotics will help keep your digestive tract healthy and you will experience little or no diarrhea at all. Yogurt replaces the friendly bacteria and keeps your immune system afloat. Yogurt also helps to fight against other harmful infections that may enter your body.
