Pyelonephritis is a urinary tract infection (UTI) that has spread up to the kidneys.
It can be acute (sudden, severe) or chronic (long-term, recurring).
It is more serious than a bladder infection (cystitis) because it may cause permanent kidney damage if untreated.
Causes & Risk Factors
Most cases occur when bacteria travel up from the bladder into the kidney.
- Untreated or recurrent UTIs.
- Kidney stones (block urine flow, give bacteria a place to grow).
- Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) – urine flows backward from bladder to kidneys.
- Pregnancy – increased risk due to hormonal changes and pressure on urinary tract.
- Diabetes – weak immunity, frequent infections.
- Catheter use or urinary tract surgery.
- Prostate enlargement in men.
Symptoms
Acute Pyelonephritis:
- High fever, chills.
- Pain in the back, side (flank), or loin.
- Burning, painful urination.
- Frequent urge to urinate, but only small amounts passed.
- Nausea, vomiting.
- Cloudy, foul-smelling, or bloody urine.
- Chronic Pyelonephritis (long-standing):
- Repeated low-grade infections.
- Dull backache.
- Frequent urination.
- High blood pressure, swelling (edema).
Complications
- Sepsis (blood infection) in acute cases.
- Kidney scarring, leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD).
- High blood pressure.
- End-stage renal disease (ESRD) in severe cases.
Homeopathic Perspective & Remedies
Homeopathy aims to:
1. Relieve acute infection symptoms (burning, fever, back pain).
2. Prevent recurrences of UTI.
3. Protect kidneys from long-term damage.
4. Correct constitutional tendency for frequent urinary infections.
Important Remedies:
- Cantharis → Severe burning before, during, after urination; constant urge; blood in urine.
- Apis Mellifica → Stinging pains, puffiness, edema; scanty urine.
- Berberis Vulgaris → Radiating kidney pain; bubbling sensation in urine passage; cloudy urine.
- Mercurius Corrosivus → Very painful, frequent urination; bloody, hot urine; straining even after passing urine.
- Terebinthina → Smoky, dark, offensive urine; kidney tenderness.
- Echinacea → Septic states; weak immunity with recurrent infections.
- Sarsaparilla → Pain at the end of urination; useful in recurrent bladder-to-kidney infections.
- Along with these, a constitutional remedy (like Sulphur, Lycopodium, Sepia, or Natrum muriaticum) is needed for long-term cure.
Supportive & Preventive Measures
- Drink adequate water (unless restricted).
- Pass urine frequently – don’t hold for long.
- Maintain hygiene.
- Control diabetes and high blood pressure.
- Women: wipe front to back to prevent bacterial spread.
- Avoid unnecessary antibiotics – they suppress but don’t cure tendency.
- Regular urine test + kidney function test if UTIs are recurrent.
Patient-Friendly Summary
- Pyelonephritis means a UTI that has spread to the kidneys.
- Acute cases show high fever, chills, back pain, burning urination.
- Chronic cases are silent but dangerous, leading to kidney scarring and kidney failure.
- Homeopathic medicines like Cantharis, Berberis, Apis, Terebinthina, Merc cor, Sarsaparilla help in controlling infection, relieving pain, and preventing kidney damage.
Along with proper lifestyle and hygiene, constitutional homeopathy offers long-term protection from recurrent kidney infections.
