Perirenal abscess

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Kidney anatomy

Kidney - blood and urine flow

Symptoms of perirenal abscess include flank (side of the abdomen) or abdominal pain, which may extend to the groin or even down the leg. More than half of all patients have fever. Many also suffer from sweats and chills.

Signs of perirenal abscess include tenderness in the back or abdomen. A urinalysis will show white blood cells and may also find red blood cells. A urine culture, if taken before antibiotics are given, may show one or more types of bacteria. Even if the urine culture is negative, white blood cells in the urine and a fever may indicate the presence of a perirenal abscess.

A CT scan or ultrasound of the abdomen may show an inflamed kidney area, which would suggest a perirenal abscess.

Review Date: 09/05/2006
Reviewed By: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.