Which specialist treats kidney infection?

A kidney infection is a urinary infection that has reached one or both kidneys. It may present with fever, chills, flank pain, nausea, or urinary changes such as cloudy urine or blood in urine. A clinician can assess how unwell you are, examine you, and arrange urine testing or other checks.

Antibiotic treatment is commonly used when a bacterial kidney infection is diagnosed. A urologist may be needed if a blockage, stone, structural problem, repeated infection, or difficulty responding to treatment is suspected. This referral does not replace prompt initial assessment.

Contact a GP or urgent-care service promptly if you have symptoms that could indicate a kidney infection. Tell the clinician about pregnancy, allergies, kidney problems, recent antibiotics, and medicines you take. Take prescribed treatment exactly as directed and ask what to do if vomiting prevents you from keeping it down.

Drink fluids if you can do so comfortably, but do not delay care while trying to manage symptoms at home. Keep any follow-up appointment, particularly if symptoms return or do not begin to improve.

Seek urgent medical help for fever with flank pain, shaking chills, confusion, faintness, repeated vomiting, severe weakness, or inability to pass urine. Blood in urine also needs assessment, especially when it is accompanied by pain or fever. Kidney infection can become serious when treatment is delayed.

Ask whether your symptoms suggest a kidney infection or another urinary tract infection, which tests you need, when treatment should start, and how improvement will be checked. Ask whether a urology referral is necessary and what warning signs should send you back for urgent care.