Pyelonephritis: what is the infection that made Flavia Pavanelli hospitalized

Actress and influencer Flavia Pavanelli shared on her social networks, on Sunday (29), that she has been hospitalized since Thursday (26), in São Paulo, after being diagnosed with pyelonephritis, a kidney infection. According to her account, the actress required hospitalization as she was “on the verge of a generalized infection”.

“A weekend a little different. On Thursday I was diagnosed with pyelonephritis after a few days of thinking it was ‘just a muscle ache’. My symptoms were silent, it took me a while to look for a professional and that made my case on the verge of a generalized infection”, began Pavanelli.

The actress used the space to warn fans about not ignoring the signs that the body gives and always seeking medical help when there is a suspicious symptom. “Thank God is everything okay? Yes! But my warning is here to always listen to our body because it speaks. Health is no joke,” she added. Flavia took the opportunity to reassure fans and explain that her exams are already normalizing and she should be discharged soon.

What is pyelonephritis, what are the causes and symptoms?

THE pyelonephritisalso called kidney infection, is a type of urinary tract infection that begins in the urethra or bladder and affects one or both kidneys due to lack of proper treatment or other risk factors. The infection is caused by the action of bacteria (e.coli) in the kidneys and ureters, the ducts that carry urine to the bladder.

Read more: What causes urinary tract infection? See the 5 most common reasons and if it is transmissible

The disease can be considered acute or chronic. In the first case, the bacterial infection appears suddenly and compromises the functioning of the kidneys. If not treated properly, can progress to chronic kidney disease, becoming potentially serious. In the chronic form, the kidneys gradually lose their ability to function, which may be related to an underlying condition, such as high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes, or to repeated acute infections.

In both the acute and chronic form, the main symptoms of pyelonephritis are:

Know more: Urinary tract infection symptoms: 9 most common and how to treat

How to diagnose and treat kidney infection?

THE diagnosis of pyelonephritis is clinical, considering the set of symptoms and the clinical examination of the patient. In addition, tests can help confirm the diagnosis, such as a complete blood count, urinalysis, and urine culture with antibiogram. Imaging tests, such as renal ultrasound or computed tomography, may also be helpful.

THE kidney infection treatment is done with the use of broad spectrum antibiotics, that is, that affect a large number of microorganisms. The goal is to prevent the bacteria from spreading throughout the body – preventing a generalized infection – or from causing permanent damage to the infected organs.

Together, analgesics can be used to relieve pain when urinating. In more severe cases, hospitalization with administration of intravenous medication may be necessary.