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Pyelonephritis refers to the inflammation of the kidney, most often caused by a bacterial infection. Pyelonephritis occurs when a pathogen (microorganism causing disease) enters and grows in your urinary tract, which includes a pair of kidneys and ureters (tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder), a urinary bladder, and a urethra (a small tube that carries urine from bladder to outside of the body). The urinary system is responsible for cleaning and filtering blood and producing urine as a waste product. Most commonly, the bacteria may enter the urinary bladder and travel up to the kidneys, or less commonly, the bacteria can enter through the bloodstream. Infections of the kidney results in the appearance of the symptoms, which may include fever, chills, a burning sensation when you pee, increased frequency of urine, tummy discomfort, pain in the flanks, etc.
For better outcomes, diagnosis and treatment must be initiated earlier in the course of the disease. Antibiotics are used to treat the infection. Untreated infections can lead to complications like pus collection, kidney damage, or a life-threatening blood infection. It is preventable by following some lifestyle changes.