Kidney infection or rather pyelonephritis is a common type of a urinary tract infection that normally begins in the bladder and swiftly moves up to the kidneys. This type of infection is so common these days mostly because of bad habits that bring them about. The infection may at first seem as any other ailment and one might disqualify it as a minor infection, but in reality, kidney infection can be very fatal.
If left untreated or ignored, the infection will not only damage the kidney but also move in to the blood stream and cause further damage. As such prompt medical treatment is extremely vital as soon as one notes any of the symptoms associated with it.
The symptoms of a kidney infection are easy to identify. They include discomfort when passing urine, frequent urge to urinate, abdominal pains, backaches and side aches. If the infection has developed, you will notice pus or blood in your urine. The urine will also be cloudy with an unpleasant smell occasionally. Though rare, there can be cases where one cannot pass urine at all or just feel the urge to pass urine at night only. If you have any of these symptoms that are accompanied by fever, night sweats, chills, nausea and fatigue, then do not even think about home remedies for kidney infection. Consult your doctor as soon as you can then think about the home remedies for kidney infection.
Cranberry juice is a good natural remedy for kidney infection. It has several properties that can effectively fight the infections as well as other conditions in the body. For best results when using cranberry juice, do not use the processed ones with additive and flavors. Just blend you own or drink the juice without additives. Drink about three or four quarts a day. That amount is enough to flush out all the pathogens and the infections.
Vitamin C is also one of the best home remedies for kidney infections and other disorders. You can take the supplements or just make sure that you diet is rich in vitamin C. You can also consume lots of citrus fruits like oranges and lemons which are rich in vitamin C.
Your diet plays a major role in treating kidney infections. Drink plenty of water to flush out the toxins and make sure that your diet is well balanced. Keep off spicy and processed foods like cheese and chocolate. Caffeine and alcohol should as well be avoided. Artificial sweeteners and carbonated drinks will only worsen the condition and should as well be avoided.
When using home remedies for kidney infections remember to always put on nice fitting clothes. If the infection is accompanied by pain, you can use heat compress to get rid of the pain. You can also use garlic or Echinacea tea to treat the infection. If the condition fails to respond to any of these home remedies for kidney infection, then it is good to consult your doctor.