Kidney infection

Condition

Kidney infection usually starts with a bladder infection that spreads to the kidney. Whilst this condition can affect both men and women, it is more common in women. Symptoms may include blood or pus in your urine, fever and chills, no desire to eat, pain in your lower back, side, or groin, vomiting or an upset stomach, weakness or fatigue.

You may also have some of the same symptoms of a bladder infection, such as burning or pain when you pee, constant urge to pee, cloudy or bad-smelling urine, pain your lower belly. 

Kidney infection is serious and should be treated immediately, to prevent kidney damage or blood poisoning, which is life-threatening. Also, if you’re pregnant, a kidney infection can affect your baby.

Treatment

Treatment for kidney infection is usually a course of antibiotics. If the infection is severe, antibiotics may be administered through an IV in hospital.