Symptoms

The symptoms of a kidney infection usually develop quite quickly over a few hours or days.

Common symptoms include:

• pain and discomfort in your side, lower back or around your genitals
• a high temperature
• shivering or chills
• feeling very weak or tired
• loss of appetite
• feeling sick or being sick
• diarrhoea

You may have other symptoms if you also have a urinary tract infection (UTI) such as cystitis.

These additional symptoms may include:

• pain or a burning sensation when peeing
• need to pee suddenly or more often than usual
• blood in your pee
• smelly or cloudy pee
• pain in your lower tummy
• pain in your genitals

In older people, a kidney infection may cause confusion.

Symptoms in children

Children with a kidney infection may have the following symptoms:

• smelly pee
• blood in their pee
• wetting the bed
• a high temperature and feeling unwell (they may complain of tummy ache)
• being sick and/or not feeding well

A child younger than 2 with a kidney infection may only have a high temperature, without any other obvious symptoms.

When to see a GP

See a GP if you feel feverish and you have pain in your tummy, lower back or genitals that will not go away.

You should also see a GP if you have symptoms of a UTI that have not improved after a few days, or if you have blood in your pee.

Contact a GP immediately if you think your child may have a kidney infection.

Kidney infections require prompt treatment with antibiotics.