The kidneys are bean-shaped organs located in the back of the abdomen that filter and remove waste products and fluid from the body. They produce urine to excrete these products. Bacteria may enter the body through the urethra or through the blood stream and infect the kidneys. The risk of developing an acute kidney infection, also called pyelonephritis, increases for individuals with a weakened immune system or with diabetes, according to the Merck Manual of Health Information. Antibiotics treat the condition and decrease the symptoms associated with a kidney infection.
Pain
One of the most common and earliest symptoms of an acute kidney infection is pain. An individual may feel a sharp, stabbing pain in the lower back, the sides, the abdomen, the groin or the pelvis. Depending on the severity of the infection, the pain may occur only on one side of the body.
Fever
A fever usually accompanies a kidney infection. It may begin as a low-grade fever and quickly increase to a higher fever. All fevers, especially coupled with pain, require medical evaluation. Individuals may experience chills as well.
Cystitis
Along with the kidney infection, an individual may experience the same symptoms associated with cystitis---an infection in the bladder. Up to a third of individuals with a kidney infections may also experience cystitis symptoms, according to the Merck Manual of Health Information. These symptoms include an increase in the urgency to urinate. An individual suffering from a kidney infection may also experience a painful, burning feeling when urinating.
Gastrointestinal Distress
Having an acute kidney infection may cause gastrointestinal distress. The symptoms associated with this distress include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Nausea and vomiting signify a serious kidney infection.
Urine Changes
The urine produced by the kidneys is normally without sediment and is pale or straw colored. During a kidney infection, the urine may have pus or become turbid. Blood may also appear in the urine, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. The urine may contain only microscopic amounts of blood, or it may have enough to discolor the urine. The urine can appear rusty colored or contain streaks of red blood.
Delirium and Sepsis
Elderly individuals may experience different symptoms when suffering from a kidney infection. One of these uncommon symptoms included a serious infection throughout the blood stream, called sepsis. Other elderly people may experience symptoms of confusion or delirium, according to the Merck Manual.
