Khadija A., 17

Seventeen-year-old Khadija Ali is a determined orphan who dreams of becoming a nurse, so she can support her parents and serve her community. She lives with her father, mother and 3 siblings in a single room rented apartment and attends a government secondary school. Neither parent has formal employment, and they sell akara as a household, earning approximately ₦12,000 - ₦20,000 per month. But their combined 20,000 naira monthly barely covers rent and food. For five days, Khadija battled fever with chills and rigors, and severe right flank pain radiating to her groin. Passing urine became painful, frequent, and urgent, with nausea and vomiting on top. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with right pyelonephritis, a serious kidney infection requiring prompt treatment before it spreads or damages the kidney.

17-year-old Khadija presents with pyelonephritis has a serious upper urinary tract infection that requires immediate, aggressive antibiotic therapy to eradicate the bacterial invasion of the kidney and prevent systemic infection. With prompt treatment including IV antibiotics, hydration, and management of anemia, Khadija’s kidney infection will resolve fully. She is expected to recover completely, return to school, and maintain normal kidney function with no long-term complications. If left untreated, the Right Pyelonephritis can progress to kidney abscess, sepsis, or chronic kidney disease. This would permanently damage her kidneys, affect her growth and overall health, and could become life-threatening.