Does kidney infection cause blood in urine?

A kidney infection often develops from bacteria that have travelled upward from the bladder. Blood in urine may occur with burning when passing urine, needing to urinate often, pain in the back or side, fever, chills, nausea, or feeling generally unwell. Symptoms can overlap with a bladder infection or kidney stone, so urine appearance alone is not enough to diagnose the problem. A urine test helps guide the assessment.

Contact a healthcare professional promptly if you have blood in urine with fever, side pain, urinary burning, or vomiting. The evaluation may include urine testing and sometimes blood tests or imaging. If antibiotics are prescribed, take them exactly as directed and complete the course unless the prescriber changes it. Drink fluids as tolerated, rest, and ask which pain medicine is suitable for you, especially if you have kidney disease or take regular medicines.

Get urgent medical help for confusion, extreme weakness, repeated vomiting, severe flank pain, inability to keep fluids down, faintness, or a fever with shaking chills. Pregnancy, a weakened immune system, a urinary catheter, or known urinary blockage also warrants early clinical advice because infection can worsen and may need hospital treatment.

Ask whether a urine culture is needed, when symptoms should start improving, and what to do if blood remains after treatment. Clarify the warning signs that require urgent review and whether any of your medicines or health conditions affect treatment choices.