"Chills after water play," may not just be simple body aches...suspected acute pyelonephritis

Many people show cold symptoms after visiting indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

It may be due to a sudden temperature change, but if lower back pain is also present, you should suspect 'acute pyelonephritis'.

This condition is similar to early cold symptoms, but if not treated promptly, it can lead to a chronic illness, so special caution is needed.

◇ Different from simple cold symptoms... characterized by a sharp, breaking back pain

Acute pyelonephritis is a condition where the kidneys become infected with bacteria, with a particularly high incidence during the summer months. In July and August of last year alone, the number of patients reached the 20,000s.

In summer, the body's water content decreases, leading to reduced urine output and longer retention of urine in the bladder. This creates an environment conducive to bacterial growth.

Acute pyelonephritis is primarily caused by bacteria entering the body through water in indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The causative bacteria reach the kidneys by passing through the urethra and bladder.

The main symptoms include high fever, chills, and lower back pain.

Lower back pain caused by general muscle soreness is felt just above the pelvis, but the back pain from acute pyelonephritis is felt at the area where the spine meets the lowest ribs. This area is called the costovertebral angle, and when infected with acute pyelonephritis, even a slight tap on this area causes pain.

◇ If left untreated, it can even lead to kidney damage

This condition occurs more frequently in women than in men. This is due to the biological characteristic that women have a shorter urethra than men.

Acute pyelonephritis presents with symptoms such as pain during urination or a persistent urge to urinate even after urination. If a bacterial infection is accompanied by cystitis, symptoms like dysuria, nocturia, and hematuria may also occur.

Acute pyelonephritis rarely heals spontaneously, so if symptoms are present, you should visit a hospital immediately. Delaying treatment or having severely weakened immunity can lead to sepsis. Acute pyelonephritis is diagnosed through urinalysis, urine culture, and blood tests.

Antibiotics taken orally for 1 to 2 weeks can be managed on an outpatient basis. However, those who cannot take antibiotics due to gastrointestinal issues or the elderly need to be hospitalized and receive intravenous antibiotic treatment.

The symptoms of acute pyelonephritis are similar to those of a cold or flu, leading many to treat it with cold medicine or delay treatment. However, in such cases, the inflammation can worsen and damage the kidneys.

To prevent illness, you should drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, and after swimming in a pool or the sea, you must rest sufficiently and take a shower. Additionally, it is important to boost your immune system by consuming fruits and vegetables rich in vitamins and minerals.