Infection of the Kidneys
Pyelonephritis is the medical term for kidney infection. This medical condition can cause flank pain because the kidneys are located below your rib cage. The cause of pyelonephritis is often a complication due to the infection of the lower urinary tract. The problem results from bacteria infecting your bladder before moving upward to the ureters and toward the kidney.
You can feel the pain because of the infection on one or both sides of your flank, which might begin as a dull pain before it becomes sharp as the infection continues.
According to available data, kidney infections are more common in women than men. Some symptoms that occur along with the infection are chills, fever, nausea, urgent need to urinate, increased frequency of urination, blood in the urine, and burning or pain when urinating.
Infection of the kidney is a serious medical condition, and could be life-threatening, so seek medical attention immediately. Failure to get treatment can result in the infection spreading to the bloodstream, which will cause sepsis. Doctors treat the infection with antibiotics, given intravenously or in capsule form. The dose depends on the severity of the condition and the type of bacteria that caused the infection.
