Kidney Infection Symptoms and Treatment

If you have back pain, fever, and burning when you pee, you might wonder: can urgent care treat kidney infection? In short, the answer is yes. Urgent care handles most mild to moderate kidney infections the same day. Therefore, you do not need an ER visit for every kidney infection. At CityHealth San Leandro, we diagnose and treat kidney infections with on-site lab testing and antibiotics.

Can Urgent Care Treat Kidney Infection Symptoms?

Kidney infection symptoms look like UTI symptoms. However, kidney infections also cause worse signs. Here is what to watch for:

Symptoms Also Present with a UTI

• Burning or pain when you pee
• Needing to pee often
• Cloudy or bad-smelling urine
• Blood in your urine

Symptoms That Point to Kidney Infection

• Flank pain: Pain in your back or side, below the ribs. Specifically, this is the main sign of a kidney infection.
• Fever (100 to 104F): This fever is usually higher than with a simple bladder infection
• Chills and shaking
• Nausea and vomiting
• Feeling very tired or weak
• Pain when touching the back near the kidneys

If you have UTI symptoms plus fever, flank pain, or nausea, you likely have a kidney infection. As a result, you need care the same day. Urgent care can treat kidney infection symptoms like these quickly.

What Causes Kidney Infections?

In most cases, bacteria travel up from the bladder to the kidneys. Specifically, E. coli bacteria cause most cases. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), these things raise your risk:

Risk factors include the following:

• First, a recent or untreated bladder UTI
• Also, being female (shorter urethra)
• In addition, pregnancy (the uterus can block urine flow)
• Similarly, diabetes (weaker immune system)
• Kidney stones (blockage lets bacteria grow)
• Enlarged prostate or tumors blocking the urinary tract
• Using a urinary catheter
• A weakened immune system

How Urgent Care Diagnoses a Kidney Infection

When you visit CityHealth for a possible kidney infection, we run several tests. First, we check your symptoms. Then, we also order lab work to confirm the infection.

1. Urinalysis: First, this checks for white blood cells, nitrites, and bacteria in your urine. As a result, results come back in minutes.
2. Urine culture: Next, this finds the specific bacteria causing your infection. As a result, your doctor can pick the best antibiotic. Typically, results take 24 to 72 hours.
3. Blood work: In addition, a blood count shows if your white blood cells are high. We also check how well your kidneys work.
4. Physical exam: Finally, the provider taps your back near the kidneys. Pain there confirms the infection has spread.

If your infection seems severe, we may send you to the ER for a CT scan or IV drugs.

Kidney Infection Treatment at Urgent Care

Treatment depends on how bad your infection is. For example, most people with mild to moderate symptoms get better with oral antibiotics.

Mild to Moderate Kidney Infection

Specifically, for most patients, urgent care can treat kidney infection with a 7 to 14 day course of oral antibiotics. Common choices include:

• Cipro or levofloxacin (first choice when local resistance is low)
• Bactrim when the lab shows the bacteria respond to it
• Cephalexin for pregnant patients or when other drugs are not safe

Most patients feel better within 24 to 48 hours after starting antibiotics. However, you must finish the full course. Stopping early can lead to resistant bacteria.

Severe Kidney Infection (Go to the ER)

However, some kidney infections need emergency care. Go to the ER if you have:

• A fever above 103F that does not come down with medicine
• You cannot keep pills or water down due to vomiting
• Signs of sepsis like fast heart rate, low blood pressure, or confusion
• Diabetes, HIV, or a weak immune system
• Pregnancy with high fever
• No improvement after 48 hours on antibiotics

Can Urgent Care Treat Kidney Infection or Should You Go to the ER?

Urgent care can treat kidney infection in most cases. If your symptoms are mild to moderate, urgent care is the right first stop. Specifically, CityHealth San Leandro can:

• First, run a urinalysis to confirm infection
• Then, order a urine culture to find the exact bacteria
• Next, prescribe oral antibiotics based on your results
• Also, check if you need hospital care
• Finally, give IV fluids and IV antibiotics if you are dehydrated

Go to the ER instead if you have:

• Fever above 103F or shaking chills
• Cannot keep any fluids or pills down
• Severe pain that medicine does not help
• Confusion, fast heart rate, or low blood pressure
• Known kidney disease, diabetes, or weak immune system
• Pregnancy with kidney infection symptoms (go to ER or OB)

Kidney Infection vs. UTI: How to Tell the Difference

Both UTIs and kidney infections affect the urinary tract. However, they hit different parts.

• UTI (lower tract): Affects the bladder and urethra. Specifically, symptoms include painful peeing, urgency, and cloudy urine. Usually no fever.
• Kidney infection (upper tract): Affects one or both kidneys. In contrast, symptoms include all UTI signs plus flank pain, high fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting.

If a UTI goes untreated, bacteria can travel up to the kidneys. Because of this, treating a UTI early matters. Moreover, kidney infections are more serious and take longer to heal.

How Long Does a Kidney Infection Last?

Fortunately, most kidney infections start getting better within 24 to 48 hours on antibiotics. A full treatment course lasts 7 to 14 days. For example, fever and back pain usually go away within 3 to 5 days.

However, you must finish all your antibiotics. As a result, stopping early lets the infection come back, often with bacteria that resist treatment.

Meanwhile, if you do not feel better after 48 hours, come back to urgent care. You may need a different antibiotic or IV treatment.

How to Prevent Kidney Infections

Fortunately, you can lower your risk with a few simple steps.

• First, treat bladder UTIs right away. Do not wait and hope they go away.
• Also, drink plenty of water every day. This helps flush bacteria out.
• In addition, pee after sex to clear bacteria from the urethra.
• Similarly, wipe front to back (for women) to keep bacteria away from the urethra.
• Finally, if you get UTIs often, talk to your doctor about preventive antibiotics.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kidney Infections

Can urgent care treat kidney infection without insurance?

Yes. Importantly, CityHealth sees patients with or without insurance. If you do not have insurance, ask about our self-pay pricing at check-in. Because kidney infections need fast treatment, do not delay care over cost concerns.

How do I know if my UTI turned into a kidney infection?

Typically, the main signs are back or side pain below the ribs, fever above 100F, and chills. If you had UTI symptoms that suddenly got worse, your infection likely spread to the kidneys. As a result, you should visit urgent care the same day.

Can a kidney infection go away on its own?

No. In fact, kidney infections require antibiotics. Without treatment, the infection can spread to your bloodstream. This is called sepsis, and it is life-threatening. Therefore, always seek medical care for kidney infection symptoms.