What does flank pain feel like with urinary tract infection?

Pain higher in the back or side can occur when infection involves the upper urinary tract. It may be steady, sore, or tender when touched. Burning urination, urgency, passing urine often, cloudy urine, fever, chills, nausea, or tiredness may appear alongside it. A bladder infection more often causes lower urinary discomfort, while flank pain calls for attention to possible upper-tract involvement. These symptoms can overlap with other conditions, so they need clinical assessment rather than self-diagnosis.

Contact a healthcare professional promptly when flank pain occurs with urinary symptoms or fever. Assessment may include questions, an examination, and urine testing; treatment depends on the findings. Drink normally if you can, rest, and take only recommended medicines. Do not use leftover antibiotics, since the correct choice and duration depend on the infection and your health.

Seek urgent care for high fever, shaking chills, worsening flank pain, repeated vomiting, confusion, faintness, difficulty passing urine, or inability to keep fluids down. Prompt advice is also needed during pregnancy or with kidney disease, diabetes, or reduced immunity.

Ask whether the infection may involve the kidneys, whether a urine test or culture is needed, when symptoms should improve, and which changes require urgent review. Describe the pain location, urinary changes, fever, vomiting, pregnancy status, allergies, and recent medicines.