Questions in the Maternal and Child Health Forum have been answered by doctors from Henry Ford Health System.

Question Title: Kidney infection

Forum: The Maternal and Child Health Forum
Topic: Pregnancy - Abnormal


I was diagnosed with a kidney infection on xmas day. Prior to that I had 5 days of moderate to bad back pain which I thought was due to pregnancy. I was put on antibotics and have just finished a course of 8 days.

My question is I've still been getting days where I wake up tired, feel bloated in the upper abdomen, then in the afternoon I start to get mild fever and chills and in the evening pain in my right side back. Last night I woke in sever pain after a day of just described. I took 2 tynol and after 2 1/2 hours the pain just went away. Today I feel great. This pattern has happened 4 times since I was diagnosed. Could I have small kidney stones and have been passing them during those bouts? Would the blood tests and urine tests I've had done by my OB have picked this up since they were looking for infection? Should I discuss my concerns about kidney stones to my OB or would she have told me since I've been keeping her informed of these symptoms?

Hoping you can help. Im 24 weeks pregnant during the 2nd last bout went into Marin materity section to see if I was in danger of pre-mature labor. It was ruled out.

Donna

Dear Donna:
Pyelonephritis (kidney infection) during pregnancy can be difficult to clear because the uterus in most women leans more on the right ureter (tube carrying urine from the kidney to the bladder). Hence, residual infection may cause these symptoms. Obstruction is a second possibility. Kidney stones and blood clots can both be culprits: they would not be detected by blood and urine tests designed to evaluate infection. It may benecessary to continue antibiotics as prophylaxsis for the rest of pregnancy.
These issues should be addressed soon, but this is not an emergency, with your physician. Ultrasound of the kidney is a good starting point: it will identify many stones (some are made of materials that do not image with sound waves) and any dilation of the kidney collecting system. If there is concern about obstruction, an intravenous pyelogram (IVP, an x-ray with contrast dye, can be performed in pregnancy.

Keywords: peylonephritis in pregnancy

This informatin is provided for education purposes and is not a medical consultation. If you have specific questions, please contact your physician.


 

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