What does fever feel like with kidney infection?

A kidney infection can cause pain under the ribs or in the flank, burning when passing urine, needing to urinate often, cloudy or strong-smelling urine, or blood in the urine. Nausea and vomiting can make it hard to drink. Fever may rise with shaking chills and leave you exhausted. These symptoms need medical assessment because an infection in the kidney can become more serious without treatment.

Arrange prompt medical care rather than relying on home treatment alone. Drink small amounts regularly if you can keep fluids down, rest, and record when symptoms began and any medicines taken. A clinician may need a urine test and prescription treatment. Take prescribed medicine exactly as directed and seek advice if vomiting prevents you from keeping it down.

Seek urgent help for confusion, fainting, severe weakness, breathing difficulty, repeated vomiting, inability to drink, or worsening flank pain. Pregnancy, childhood, older age, reduced immunity, or known kidney problems are reasons to seek advice quickly. Do not wait if fever and urinary symptoms are accompanied by shaking chills or a person appears very unwell.

Ask whether a urine test is needed, which treatment is suitable, how to manage pain safely, how much to drink, and what improvement should look like.