Renal abscess also referred as perirenal or kidney abscess is accumulation of pus pockets in the kidney tissue. It is caused due to bacteria getting into kidneys from other parts of the body and it is often caused due to Urinary Tract Infection. In certain cases, it can be a result of blockages that obstruct urine flow.
What Causes Renal Abscess?
Abscess on the skin
Inflammation of the kidneys
Post-Surgery complications to the urinary tract, reproductive organs
Drugs that were administered intravenously
Few patients with high levels of blood glucose too encounter renal abscess
Also Read: Kidney Cancer: Causes, Symptoms And Treatment
Symptoms:
Renal abscess is a rare occurrence that usually presents with following symptoms:
Fever and chills
Abdominal pain that radiates down the groin
Severe backache and tenderness
Sudden weight loss
Pain during urination
Blood in the urine
Sweating at night
Diagnosis:
Kidney abscess is diagnosed by running a battery of tests including blood tests, urine culture, analysis of urine, ultrasound of abdominal region and CT scan.
The urine and blood tests would reveal the type of bacteria causing the abscess and the doctor would decide upon future course of treatment depending on the results.
Also Read: Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Kidney Stones
Treatment:
Renal abscess at the early stages can be treated with antibiotics. However, the patient would require the medication for at least 2 months depending on how fast the abscess is shrinking. The doctor might ask for ultrasounds at regular intervals for adjusting the dosage of antibiotics. In patients suffering from diabetes mellitus, it may take longer time for the abscess to disappear.
If the size of abscess is big, then it would require a minimally invasive surgery to clear it. The pus will be drained through a catheter and intravenous antibiotics are administered at least twice in a day till the infection gets cleared. In case of exceptionally large pus formations or if the patient is also suffering from kidney stones, the doctor would perform a surgery to remove the abscess. It would take up to 2 to 3 days for the patient to recover completely post-surgery.
