Can flu affect your kidneys?

Author

Emily Cortez

Published Feb 15, 2026

Can flu affect your kidneys?

Kidney disease can weaken your body's ability to fight off the flu. > The flu can make kidney disease worse. your new kidney. To protect yourself from the flu (influenza), you need to get the flu shot, not the nasal-spray flu vaccine.

Moreover, can flu damage kidneys?

Any type of serious infection or critical illness can cause kidney injury, Sood said, who added that viral infections like influenza also caused muscle breakdown. Kidneys are damaged as they filter out the broken-down muscle cells.

Similarly, is kidney pain a symptom of the flu? Recognizing a Kidney InfectionBut the following symptoms indicate that your kidneys may also be affected: Fever and Chills A UTI that's limited to your lower urinary tract usually doesn't cause flu-like symptoms, but when it spreads to your kidneys, your body's immune system tends to kick into higher gear.

Also to know is, can being sick affect your kidneys?

Any type of serious infection or critical illness can cause kidney injury, according to Dr. Sood. "The byproduct of that is directly toxic to kidney tubules." Kidney tubules are a key part of the organ's blood filtering system. To investigate how H1N1 influenza A infections might affect the kidneys, Dr.

Can flu cause long term problems?

They include viral or bacterial pneumonia, dehydration, and ear infections and sinus infections, especially in children. The flu can worsen long-term medical conditions, like congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

What color is urine when your kidneys are failing?

Brown, red, or purple urine

Kidneys make urine, so when the kidneys are failing, the urine may change.

Why do kidneys hurt with flu?

Often during critical illness, a person's blood pressure drops, inflammation begins, and the blood vessels to and from the kidneys constrict, decreasing blood flow. "Viral infections like influenza have one added kicker in that they cause muscle breakdown," he explained.

What virus attacks the kidneys?

Lupus. This is a disease that makes your immune system attack certain parts of your body. When it affects your kidneys, it's called lupus nephritis. It causes inflammation and scarring of the small blood vessels that filter waste out of your kidneys, and sometimes in your kidneys as well.

Can the flu cause organ damage?

Flu Complications

Other possible serious complications triggered by flu can include inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), brain (encephalitis) or muscle (myositis, rhabdomyolysis) tissues, and multi-organ failure (for example, respiratory and kidney failure). Flu also can make chronic medical problems worse.

Can flu affect the brain?

That's because the flu actually affects your brain as well as your body. One way you may notice that the flu has impacted you mentally is by your mood. As for feeling mentally and physically exhausted, the brain has something to do that with as well.

How do you know if something is wrong with your kidneys?

Tell your doctor if you have the following symptoms, which can be signs that something is wrong with your kidneys: A change in how much you urinate. Pee that is foamy, bloody, discolored, or brown. Pain while you pee.

Can stress affect the kidneys?

Stress and uncontrolled reactions to stress can also lead to kidney damage. As the blood filtering units of your body, your kidneys are prone to problems with blood circulation and blood vessels. High blood pressure and high blood sugar can place an additional strain or burden on your kidneys.

Can the cold affect your kidneys?

Advice for kidney patients during the cold weather

Kidney disease affects more than 3 million people in the UK and cold weather, ice and snow can aggravate existing health problems, making people with long term conditions such as kidney disease more vulnerable to illnesses.

What are symptoms of kidneys shutting down?

Signs and symptoms of acute kidney failure may include:

Decreased urine output, although occasionally urine output remains normal.
Fluid retention, causing swelling in your legs, ankles or feet.
Shortness of breath.
Fatigue.
Confusion.
Nausea.
Weakness.
Irregular heartbeat.

How do I detox my kidneys?

8 Easy Ways to Cleanse Your Kidneys

Apple Cider Vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is effective in preventing oxidative stress of the kidneys.
Kidney Beans. Kidney beans not only resemble the kidneys but also remove waste and toxins from the kidney and flush out kidney stones effectively.
Lemon Juice.
Watermelon.
Pomegranate.
Basil.
Dates.
Dandelion.

What does a ruptured kidney feel like?

Look for these symptoms in athletes when a kidney rupture is suspected: Hematuria (blood in urine) is the most common presenting sign of renal injury. Right or left abdominal pain, mild or severe depending on rupture. Abdominal bruising, swelling, and pain.

Can kidneys recover from damage?

Acute kidney failure can be fatal and requires intensive treatment. However, acute kidney failure may be reversible. If you're otherwise in good health, you may recover normal or nearly normal kidney function.

Does smoking affect your kidneys?

In addition to tobacco, smoking allows other toxins into the body. And according to the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP), studies have shown that smoking is harmful for the kidneys, and can cause kidney disease to progress and increases the risk for proteinuria (excessive amount of protein in the urine).

What can damage my kidneys?

Diabetes (types 1 and 2) and high blood pressure are the most common culprits. High blood sugar levels over time can harm your kidneys. And high blood pressure creates wear and tear on your blood vessels, including those that go to your kidneys.

What are the 5 stages of kidney failure?

Five Stages of Kidney Disease

Stage 1 with normal or high GFR (GFR > 90 mL/min)
Stage 2 Mild CKD (GFR = 60-89 mL/min)
Stage 3A Moderate CKD (GFR = 45-59 mL/min)
Stage 3B Moderate CKD (GFR = 30-44 mL/min.
Stage 4 Severe CKD (GFR = 15-29 mL/min)
Stage 5 End Stage CKD (GFR <15 mL/min)

What is the first sign of kidney problems?

Symptoms of kidney failure

a reduced amount of urine. swelling of your legs, ankles, and feet from retention of fluids caused by the failure of the kidneys to eliminate water waste. unexplained shortness of breath. excessive drowsiness or fatigue.

Can kidneys fail suddenly?

Acute kidney failure happens when your kidneys suddenly lose the ability to eliminate excess salts, fluids, and waste materials from the blood. Acute kidney failure is also called acute kidney injury or acute renal failure. It's common in people who are already in the hospital. It may develop rapidly over a few hours.

What flu is going around 2020?

Influenza B leading the charge in 2020 flu season. The flu season is officially underway and, while an unexpected virus is taking center stage, treatments have been a good match so far for this year's circulating viruses.

Is Flu A or B worse?

Unlike type A flu viruses, type B flu is found only in humans. Type B flu may cause a less severe reaction than type A flu virus, but occasionally, type B flu can still be extremely harmful.

How long am I contagious with the flu?

If you have the flu, you'll be contagious one day before developing symptoms and up to five to seven days after becoming ill. Younger children or people with a weakened immune system may be contagious for longer. The influenza virus can also survive on surfaces, such as doorknobs and tables, for up to 24 hours.

Why do joints hurt with the flu?

Your immune system, not the virus, causes muscle aches and joint pain. During the immune response, white blood cells produce glycoproteins called interleukins. These interleukins cause the symptoms associated with colds, flu, and other bacterial or viral infections.

What are the stages of the flu?

A bout of the flu typically follows this pattern:

Days 1–3: Sudden appearance of fever, headache, muscle pain and weakness, dry cough, sore throat and sometimes a stuffy nose.
Day 4: Fever and muscle aches decrease.
Day 8: Symptoms decrease.

Can the flu affect your eyes?

The sneezing, coughing, and fever that accompany a cold or flu can also negatively affect your eyes. Eyes can be dry and tired, and it's not uncommon to gain an eye infection while under the weather. Our eyes are sensitive, so it's important to care for them as best you can—especially during cold and flu season.

When should you go to the hospital for a kidney infection?

You should see your doctor if you have a fever and persistent tummy, lower back or genital pain, or if you notice a change to your usual pattern of urination. Most kidney infections need prompt treatment with antibiotics to stop the infection from damaging the kidneys or spreading to the bloodstream.

When should I go to the doctor for the flu?

You have trouble breathing or chest pain . Your cold or flu shouldn't make you short of breath or cause your chest to hurt. If that's happening to you, it could be a sign of a more serious problem, such as heart disease, asthma, or pneumonia. Call your doctor or go to the emergency room.

How painful is a kidney infection?

About kidney infections

It's more serious than cystitis, a common infection of the bladder that makes urinating painful. If treated promptly, a kidney infection doesn't cause serious harm, but will make you feel very unwell. You can feel feverish, shivery, sick and have a pain in your back or side.

How do you tell if the flu is turning into pneumonia?

Pneumonia

severe cough with large amounts of mucus.
trouble breathing.
shortness of breath.
severe chills or sweating.
fever higher than 102°F (38.9°C) that's not going away, especially if you also have chills or sweating.
chest pains.

Can the flu cause neurological problems?

“Influenza viruses cause a variety of neurologic manifestations in children, including simple and complex febrile seizures, exacerbations of underlying seizure disorders, encephalopathy and encephalitis,” the researchers wrote. NMI occurred in 18% of influenza patients. Of these patients, 85% were infected with H3N2.

Does flu cause inflammation?

Flu virus infection of the respiratory tract can trigger an extreme inflammatory response in the body and can lead to sepsis, the body's life-threatening response to infection. Flu also can make chronic medical problems worse.

How do you heal your lungs after the flu?

Below, we look at breathing exercises and lifestyle changes that can help remove excess mucus from the lungs and improve breathing.

Steam therapy.
Controlled coughing.
Drain mucus from the lungs.
Exercise.
Green tea.
Anti-inflammatory foods.
Chest percussion.

Can the flu cause permanent lung damage?

Swine flu has caused permanent pulmonary damage to some patients in Finland. In Kuopio, five people who were in intensive care with the H1N1 virus developed serious lung problems. Some people with these complications were basically healthy before they contracted swine flu, and were not in any risk group.

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Can flu affect your kidneys?