106 chapter 5: Taking care of your body
Signs of kidney infection:
• middle or lower back pain, often
severe, that can go from the front,
around the sides, and into the back
• nausea and vomiting
• feeling very ill and weak
• fever and chills
• any bladder infection signs
If you have signs of both bladder and kidney infection, you probably have a
kidney infection. When a woman has a kidney infection, she is usually in great pain
and can become very ill. She needs help right away and home remedies are not
enough. Start taking one of these medicines right away. If you do not start to feel
better after 2 days, see a health worker.
Medicines for kidney infection
Medicine
How much to take
When to take
ciprofloxacin
500 mg
(Do not use if you are
breastfeeding)
by mouth, 2 times a day
for 10 days
or cefixime
500 mg
by mouth, 2 times a day
for 10 days
or cotrimoxazole
2 tablets of 480 mg
(160 mg trimethoprim and
800 mg sulfamethoxazole)
by mouth, 2 times a day
for 10 days
If you cannot swallow medicines because you are vomiting, see a health worker. You will
need medicines by injection.
How to help prevent urinary infections
Keep your genitals clean. Germs from the genitals—and especially the anus—can
get into the urinary opening and cause infection. Try to wash the genitals every day,
and always wipe from front to back after passing stool. Wiping forward can spread
germs from the anus into the urinary opening. Also, try to wash your genitals before
and after having sex. Keep the cloths and pads used for your monthly bleeding very
clean and dry.
• Make sure your catheter is not bent or twisted so that urine can
come out easily.
• Pass urine after having sex. This helps wash out the urine tube.
• Drink plenty of liquids and empty your bladder regularly.
• Do not lie down all day. Stay as active as you can.
Most women take medicine only when they have signs of an infection. But some
women get infections frequently, often when they begin their monthly bleeding, so
they start to take medicine then.
A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities 2007