Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection in the urinary system. It is divided into two main types: lower and upper UTI. Lower UTI includes infection in the urethra and bladder, whereas upper UTI includes infection in the kidneys. Therefore, kidney infection and UTI are two related medical conditions.
The key difference between kidney infection and UTI is the organs they affect. Kidney infection is a type of urinary tract infection that only affects the kidneys of the urinary system, while UTI is an infection in the urinary system that affects the urethra, bladder, and kidneys.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Kidney Infection
3. What is UTI
4. Similarities – Kidney Infection and UTI
5. Kidney Infection vs UTI in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Kidney Infection vs UTI
7. FAQ – Kidney Infection and UTI
What is Kidney Infection?
Kidney infection, also known as pyelonephritis, is a type of upper UTI. It occurs when bacteria move from another part of the urinary system, such as the bladder, to the kidneys. Some of the bacteria that cause kidney infection are E. coli, Proteus mirabilus, Enterobacter, and Staphylococcus. The symptoms of this condition may include fever, pain in the lower back side, chills, pain when urinating, bloody or cloudy urine that might smell bad, and urgent or frequent need to urinate. The complications involved in this condition are emphysematous pyelonephritis and renal papillary necrosis.
Kidney infection can be diagnosed through physical examination, urinalysis, CT scan, and renal ultrasound. Furthermore, kidney infections can be treated through prescription antibiotics such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin or augmentin, ceftriaxone or cephalexin and ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin, and surgeries.
What is UTI?
UTI is an infection in the urinary system that includes urethritis (infection in the urethra), cystitis (infection in the bladder), and pyelonephritis (infection in the kidneys). The typical symptoms of UTI include problems peeing, fever, chills, cloudy, foul smelling or dark urine, pain in the flank, abdomen, pelvic area, or lower back, pain while peeing, pain during sex, blood in urine, nausea and vomiting, mental changes or confusion. E. coli that typically exists in the lower intestine is the main cause (more than 90%) of bladder infections.
UTI can be diagnosed through urinalysis, urine culture, ultrasound CT scan, and cystoscopy. Furthermore, health care providers commonly prescribe antibiotics such as nitrofurantoin, sulfonamides, amoxicillin, cephalosporins, doxycycline, Fosfomycin, and quinolones for UTI infections.
Similarities Between Kidney Infection and UTI
- Kidney infection and UTI are two related medical conditions.
- Kidney infection is a type of lower UTI.
- Both are caused by similar bacteria, such as coli.
- Both may have similar symptoms, such as pain while peeing, fever, chills, etc.
- These conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests.
- They can be treated through specific medications such as bacteria.
Difference Between Kidney Infection and UTI
Definition
- Kidney infection is a condition in the kidneys caused by bacteria moving from another part of the urinary system to the kidneys.
- UTI is an infection of the urinary system that includes urethritis, cystitis, and pyelonephritis and is caused by bacteria moving from the lower intestine to the urinary system.
Symptoms
- Symptoms of kidney infections include fever, pain in the lower back side, chills, pain when urinating, bloody or cloudy pee that might smell bad, and urgent or frequent need to urinate.
- Symptoms of UTI include fever, chills, cloudy, foul-smelling, or dark urine, pain in the flank, abdomen, pelvic area, or lower back, pain while urinating, pain during sex, blood in urine, nausea, vomiting, mental changes, or confusion.
Complications
- Complications of kidney infections include emphysematous pyelonephritis and renal papillary necrosis.
- Complications of UTI include chronic prostatitis, emphysematous pyelonephritis, focal renal nephronia, hypertension, incontinence, persistent lower UTI symptoms, prostatic abscess, pyelonephritis, etc.
Diagnosis
- Kidney infection can be diagnosed by physical examination, urinalysis, CT scan, and renal ultrasound.
- UTI can be diagnosed by urinalysis, urine culture, ultrasound CT scan, and cystoscopy.
Treatment
- Kidney infection can be treated with prescription antibiotics such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin or augmentin, ceftriaxone or cephalexin, and ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin and respective surgeries.
- UTI can be treated with antibiotics like nitrofurantoin, sulfonamides, amoxicillin, cephalosporins, doxycycline, fosfomycin, and quinolones, and correcting anatomical defects.
The following table summarizes the difference between kidney infection and UTI.
Summary – Kidney Infection vs UTI
Kidney infection and UTI are two related medical conditions. Kidney infection or pyelonephritis is a type of upper UTI. It occurs when bacteria move from another part, such as from the bladder of the urinary system up to the kidneys. UTI is an infection in the urinary system that is commonly seen in women. UTI includes urethritis, cystitis, and pyelonephritis. It is caused by bacteria that move from the lower intestine to the urinary system. This is the key difference between kidney infection and UTI.
FAQ: Kidney Infection and UTI
1. How do people know if they have a kidney infection or a UTI?
- Symptoms of kidney infections include feeling feverish, shivery, sick and having pain in the back or side, bloody or cloudy pee that might smell bad, urgent or frequent need to pee while UTI symptoms include burning sensation while urinating, frequent intense urinating, dark urine, feeling tired and wetting in the bed.
2. Can a kidney infection go away on its own?
- In some people, kidney infections do clear up on their own. However, these infections can cause serious complications; hence, it is best to treat them with prescribed antibiotics.
3. What is the main cause of a UTI?
- Bacteria are the most common cause of urinary tract infections. However, fungi can also cause UTIs in rare cases. coli bacteria, which live in the bowel, cause 90% of UTIs. The female anatomy contributes to an increased likelihood of contracting a UTI, too.
4. How can a UTI be cured?
- Sometimes, a UTI will go away on its own. However, most people will need antibiotics to reduce symptoms that don’t go away after a certain amount of time, such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
5. How can people reduce the risk of UTI?
- Stay hydrated, urinate regularly, practice proper wiping techniques, empty the bladder before and after sexual activity, maintain good sexual hygiene, wear breathable underwear, maintain a healthy diet, and take a probiotic.
Reference:
1. “Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis).” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).” Cleveland Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Depiction of a man suffering from a Kidney Infection” By Myupchar.com (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Depiction of a lady who has a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)” By Myupchar.com (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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