When a Bladder Infection Needs a Doctor’s Visit Rather Than Waiting It Out

It starts on a Tuesday afternoon, somewhere between the third and fourth trip to the bathroom. The sting when you pee. The nagging feeling that you need to go again the moment you sit back down. You stand at the kitchen sink filling a glass of water and run the calculation everyone runs: is this the kind of thing that passes, or the kind of thing that needs an appointment?

The honest answer to bladder infection when to see doctor is that it depends less on how much it hurts and more on who you are and where the infection is heading. A healthy woman with a first bout of burning is in a different position from a man with the same symptoms, or a woman who is 30 weeks pregnant, or anyone whose lower back has started to ache.

This explainer walks through the evidence behind those distinctions, so that the decision you make at the sink is an informed one rather than a hopeful one.

Bladder infection when to see doctor: the short version

Most decisions about a bladder infection come down to a handful of questions. Are you a woman who is not pregnant, generally healthy, and dealing only with symptoms below the waist: burning, urgency, frequency, perhaps a dull ache low in the pelvis? If so, mainstream guidance leaves a little room. The NHS advises seeing a general practitioner if symptoms have not started to improve within 2 days, or if they are severe, while the infection is confined to the bladder.

Change any part of that picture and the advice tightens. Men are advised to seek care with a first episode, because a bladder infection in a man is uncommon enough that clinicians want to understand why it happened. Pregnant women are asked to be seen promptly, since an untreated infection in pregnancy carries higher risks for both parent and baby. Children, adults over 65, people with diabetes or a weakened immune system, and anyone with a catheter or a known kidney or bladder problem are also in the come-in-now group.

Then there are the symptoms that override everything else. Fever, shaking chills, pain in the back or side just under the ribs, nausea or vomiting, and visible blood in the urine all suggest the infection may be moving beyond the bladder toward the kidneys. Those signs call for a same-day assessment, whoever you are.

The rest of this article unpacks why the lines fall where they do. If you only remember one idea, make it this: a bladder infection is rarely dangerous in itself, but a kidney infection can be, and the whole point of seeing a doctor at the right moment is to keep the first from becoming the second.

What actually happens inside the bladder during an infection

The urinary tract is essentially a plumbing system: two kidneys that filter blood into urine, two thin tubes called ureters that carry it down, a bladder that stores it, and the urethra, the short passage that lets it out. Under normal conditions every part of that system above the urethra is free of bacteria. Urine flowing outward acts like a rinse cycle, sweeping microbes away before they can settle.

A bladder infection, which doctors call cystitis, begins when bacteria travel up the urethra and attach to the bladder lining. The Mayo Clinic notes that the great majority are caused by Escherichia coli, a bacterium that lives harmlessly in the gut but causes trouble when it reaches the bladder. Anatomy explains why women are affected far more often: the female urethra is shorter and sits closer to the anus, so bacteria have a shorter journey.

Once bacteria stick to the bladder wall, the immune system responds with inflammation. That swelling is what produces the familiar symptoms. An irritated lining sends constant signals that the bladder is full, so you feel urgent even when there is little urine to pass. Inflamed tissue stings as urine flows over it. Small blood vessels can leak, tinting the urine pink or cloudy.

Left alone, one of three things happens. The body’s defenses and the flushing action of urine may clear the bacteria. The infection may settle into a grumbling, low-grade state. Or the bacteria may continue upward through the ureters to a kidney, causing pyelonephritis, the medical term for a kidney infection. That last path is the one that turns an uncomfortable week into a genuine medical problem, which is why the timing of a doctor’s visit matters more than it might first appear.

How to tell if it's a UTI or a bladder infection

The two terms cause a great deal of confusion, and clearing it up changes how you read everything else on this topic. A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is the umbrella term for infection anywhere in the system. A bladder infection is one type of UTI, the most common one. So every bladder infection is a UTI, but not every UTI is a bladder infection. The question is really: which part of the tract is involved?

MedlinePlus groups UTIs by location. A lower UTI involves the bladder or urethra. An upper UTI involves the ureters or kidneys. The distinction is not academic. Lower infections are usually uncomfortable and self-limited or easily managed. Upper infections can damage the kidney and, occasionally, spill bacteria into the bloodstream.

Location tends to announce itself through symptom pattern rather than intensity. Bladder infections keep their symptoms local: burning, urgency, frequency, pressure low in the abdomen, cloudy or strong-smelling urine. Kidney infections add whole-body signs. The NHS lists a high temperature, shivering, pain in the side or lower back, and feeling or being sick as features that point toward the kidneys. Confusion is a particular warning sign in older adults.

Urethritis, inflammation of the urethra alone, can mimic a bladder infection but is more often linked to sexually transmitted infections, another reason a clinician may ask about sexual history without any judgment attached.

Why does this matter for timing? Because the watch-and-wait window that applies to a mild bladder infection in a healthy woman does not apply once symptoms suggest the kidneys. If you find yourself trying to decide whether that back ache is muscular or something else, treat the uncertainty itself as the reason to be seen.

How long should you wait before seeing a doctor for a UTI?

Nobody wants to book an appointment for something that would have settled on its own by the time they arrived. The evidence offers a reasonably clear window, with important exceptions.

For a healthy, non-pregnant adult woman whose symptoms stay in the bladder, the NHS suggests that mild cystitis often begins to ease within a few days, and advises contacting a doctor if there is no improvement after 2 days. Two days, not two weeks. The reasoning is practical: if the body’s own defenses are going to win, there is usually some sign of it by then. Symptoms that are flat or worsening at the 48-hour mark are unlikely to turn around unaided.

Within that window, the usual supportive measures are simple. Drink enough fluid that urine runs pale, which supports the bladder’s rinse cycle. Empty the bladder fully and often rather than holding on. Over-the-counter pain relief may take the edge off; a pharmacist or clinician can advise on what suits you. None of these treat the bacteria directly, but they make the waiting period more tolerable and support the body’s own clearing process.

The waiting window closes immediately in several situations. The Mayo Clinic advises prompt medical attention for anyone with fever, chills, flank pain, or nausea and vomiting, because those suggest kidney involvement. The NHS applies the same urgency to men, pregnant women, children, people over 65, and anyone with blood in the urine, a catheter, diabetes, a weakened immune system, or a history of kidney problems.

One more practical point: if this is a return visit from a familiar enemy, a woman who has had recurrent infections may already have an agreed plan with her clinician. Following that plan counts as acting, not waiting.

Can a UTI go away on its own without seeing a doctor?

Sometimes, yes. The idea that every UTI requires antibiotics is one of the most persistent beliefs about the condition, and it is not quite what the evidence shows. The NHS states that mild cystitis will often clear up on its own within about 3 days. The body’s immune response, combined with steady urine flow washing bacteria out, is enough in a meaningful share of uncomplicated cases.

That statement needs careful framing. It applies to mild infections in healthy, non-pregnant women with symptoms limited to the bladder. It does not describe what happens in men, in pregnancy, in older adults, in children, or in anyone whose immune defenses are compromised. In those groups the balance of risk shifts, and clinicians generally treat rather than observe.

There is also a difference between an infection resolving and an infection quietening. Some people find that symptoms fade over a few days without treatment, then return a week or two later. That pattern can mean the bacteria were suppressed rather than cleared. It is not a reason to panic, but it is a reason to be seen, because repeated episodes deserve a proper look rather than a series of guesses.

Why do clinicians increasingly support a short wait in mild cases? Antibiotic resistance. Every course of antibiotics gives bacteria an opportunity to adapt, and the organisms that cause UTIs have become notably harder to treat in many regions. Avoiding an unnecessary course protects the individual and the wider community. Guidelines in several countries now explicitly allow a back-up prescription approach, where a woman is given a prescription to use only if symptoms fail to improve within a set period.

So the honest answer is conditional: a mild bladder infection may resolve unaided, but the decision to wait should rest on the absence of red flags, not on wishful thinking, and it should come with a clear stopping point.

Warning signs that a bladder infection should not wait another day

People search for the five warning signs of a bladder infection, and it is worth being precise about which signs matter for the decision at hand. The ordinary features of cystitis, burning and urgency, tell you an infection is probably present. The signs below tell you the infection may be leaving the bladder, and they are the ones that should send you to a clinician the same day.

• Fever or shaking chills. A bladder infection on its own rarely raises body temperature much. Fever suggests the immune system is dealing with something more extensive, usually the kidney.
• Pain in the back or side, just under the ribs. The kidneys sit high and toward the back. Pain there, especially on one side and especially if tapping the area hurts, is a classic feature of kidney infection according to the Mayo Clinic.
• Nausea or vomiting. Feeling sick is a whole-body response. It also matters practically: someone who cannot keep fluids down cannot support their own recovery or reliably take oral treatment.
• Visible blood in the urine. A faint pink tinge can occur with simple cystitis, but frank blood or clots needs assessment, both to treat the infection and to rule out other causes.
• Confusion or sudden drowsiness, particularly in an older adult. The NHS notes that a UTI in older people can present as confusion rather than urinary symptoms, and a sudden change in mental state is a reason for urgent review.

Add to that list any symptom that worsens rapidly over hours, or a situation where you feel genuinely unwell in a way that is hard to name. Sepsis, the body’s overwhelming response to infection, can start from a urinary source, and its early signs are often vague: fast breathing, a racing heart, mottled or clammy skin, and a sense that something is badly wrong. Trust that sense.

Who is usually asked to come in now, and who can safely watch and wait

Clinicians sort people with bladder symptoms into two broad groups. The first can reasonably observe for a short period. The second is asked to be assessed promptly, not because their symptoms are necessarily worse, but because the consequences of a missed or delayed diagnosis are greater. The table below summarizes how mainstream guidance from the NHS and Mayo Clinic draws the line.

Situation	Usual advice	Why
Healthy, non-pregnant woman, mild bladder-only symptoms	Fluids and comfort measures; see a doctor if no improvement in 2 days	Mild cystitis often settles; low risk of complications
Any adult with fever, flank pain, chills, or vomiting	Same-day assessment	Possible kidney infection
Man of any age	See a doctor with first episode	Uncommon in men; often an underlying cause to identify
Pregnant woman	Prompt assessment, even with mild symptoms	Higher risk of kidney infection and pregnancy complications
Child	Prompt assessment	Symptoms can be vague; kidneys still developing
Adult over 65	Prompt assessment, especially with confusion	Atypical presentation; faster deterioration
Diabetes, weakened immunity, catheter, kidney disease	Prompt assessment	Reduced ability to clear infection
Symptoms returning after treatment, or 3 or more episodes in a year	Book a non-urgent but timely visit	Pattern needs investigation, not repeated guessing

Notice what does not appear in the table: how much the burning hurts. Symptom intensity is a poor guide to danger. A kidney infection can begin with modest urinary symptoms, and a fierce bout of cystitis can remain entirely confined to the bladder.

A final note on the watch-and-wait group. Belonging to it is a permission, not an obligation. Anyone who would rather be assessed early is entitled to make that choice, and no clinician will consider the visit wasted.

What happens at a doctor's visit for a bladder infection

For many people the visit is briefer and less invasive than they expect. It usually starts with a conversation: when symptoms began, whether there is fever or back pain, whether this has happened before, and, for women, whether pregnancy is possible. Clinicians also ask about sexual activity and contraception, not to pry but because both influence infection risk and the range of possible causes.

Next comes a urine sample, ideally collected midstream so the first flow rinses the urethra before the sample is caught. Two tests may follow. The first is a dipstick, a paper strip that changes color in the presence of substances that suggest infection, such as white blood cells and nitrites, which are chemical by-products of certain bacteria. Results appear within minutes. The second is a urine culture, where the sample is sent to a laboratory to grow any bacteria present and test which antibiotics affect them. The Cleveland Clinic notes that culture results generally take a day or two.

Not everyone needs a culture. In a healthy woman with typical symptoms, many clinicians treat on the basis of history and dipstick alone. Cultures become more valuable when symptoms have returned after treatment, when the person is pregnant or male, when an earlier course did not work, or when the dipstick is unhelpful.

A physical examination may include pressing on the lower abdomen and gently tapping the back over the kidneys to check for tenderness. Temperature, pulse and blood pressure help distinguish a bladder infection from something that has spread. Blood tests and imaging are not routine for simple cystitis; they are reserved for suspected kidney infection, repeated episodes, or when something about the presentation does not fit.

The visit ends with a plan, which may be immediate treatment, a back-up prescription to hold in reserve, or a decision to wait for culture results. Whichever it is, it will be tailored to the individual by the clinician who has examined them.

How treatment works and what the following days usually look like

When a clinician decides to treat, the mainstay is an antibiotic chosen to target the bacteria most commonly responsible. Antibiotics work by disrupting processes bacteria need to survive, such as building their cell walls or copying their genetic material, without harming human cells in the same way. The specific medicine, and how long it is taken, depends on local resistance patterns, the person’s history and allergies, kidney function, and whether they are pregnant. Those are prescribing decisions, and they belong to the clinician.

What most people want to know is the timeline. The NHS notes that symptoms of a bladder infection usually begin to improve within a day or two of starting antibiotics, and that courses for uncomplicated cystitis in women are typically short, with longer courses for men, pregnant women, and anyone with a more complicated picture. Improvement is not the same as completion; finishing the prescribed course as directed matters even when symptoms have gone.

A rough sketch of a typical uncomplicated week might look like this. Day one: burning and urgency at their worst; treatment begins. Day two to three: noticeably less stinging, fewer trips to the bathroom. By the end of the course: symptoms gone or nearly so. Any timeline is an average, not a guarantee, and individual experiences vary.

Two turns of events should prompt a call back. The first is symptoms that have not improved at all after about 48 hours of treatment, which may mean the bacteria are resistant to the chosen antibiotic and a culture result or a different choice is needed. The second is any new red flag: fever, flank pain, vomiting. Neither is a failure on the patient’s part; both are normal reasons to update the plan.

Alongside treatment, the supportive measures remain sensible: adequate fluids, regular bladder emptying, rest, and pain relief as advised. Cranberry products are often mentioned; the evidence for treating an active infection is weak, and they are not a substitute for assessment.

UTI or kidney infection: why pregnancy, age and sex change the advice

Four groups are consistently asked to see a doctor rather than wait, and understanding why can make the advice feel less arbitrary.

Men. The longer male urethra makes bladder infections uncommon, so when one occurs clinicians look for a reason. Enlargement of the prostate, the gland that surrounds the urethra below the bladder, can prevent complete emptying and leave stagnant urine where bacteria thrive. Infection can also involve the prostate itself, which behaves differently and generally needs longer treatment. The Mayo Clinic advises men to seek medical care for urinary symptoms rather than self-manage.

Pregnancy. Hormonal changes relax the ureters and the growing uterus presses on the bladder, so urine drains less efficiently. That makes it easier for bacteria to climb toward the kidneys. Kidney infection in pregnancy is associated with preterm labor and low birth weight, which is why even bacteria in the urine without symptoms is treated during pregnancy and why pregnant women are asked to be seen promptly.

Older adults. The immune response can be muted with age, and classic symptoms may be absent. The NHS highlights that a UTI in an older person may show up as new confusion, agitation, unsteadiness or a fall, sometimes with no urinary complaint at all. Families and caregivers are often the first to notice that something is off.

Children. Infants and toddlers cannot describe burning. Fever without an obvious source, poor feeding, vomiting, irritability, or a return to wetting after being dry can all be the only clues. Because a child’s kidneys are still developing and are more vulnerable to scarring, pediatric UTIs are assessed promptly, and the clinician may arrange follow-up imaging depending on age and findings. Comfort measures at home focus on fluids, rest and reassurance; any medication decisions sit entirely with the child’s clinician.

When to see a doctor for a UTI that keeps coming back

A single bladder infection is an inconvenience. A pattern of them is a medical question in its own right, and one that deserves an appointment even when each individual episode is mild.

Clinicians generally define recurrent UTI as 2 or more episodes in 6 months, or 3 or more in 12 months, a threshold used in NHS guidance. Reaching it does not mean something sinister is happening; most women with recurrent infections have entirely normal urinary tracts. It does mean the strategy should shift from treating each episode to understanding the pattern.

That conversation usually covers triggers. Sexual activity is a common one, because it can move bacteria toward the urethra. Spermicides and diaphragms are associated with higher risk. After menopause, falling estrogen changes the tissues of the vagina and urethra and the balance of protective bacteria, which is one reason infections often begin or increase in midlife. Incomplete bladder emptying, constipation, and, less often, structural problems such as stones can also contribute.

Depending on what emerges, a clinician may suggest culture-guided treatment for future episodes, a standby prescription to keep at home, behavioral measures, or, for some postmenopausal women, vaginal estrogen, which has reasonable evidence for reducing recurrences. Long-term low-level antibiotics are an option in selected cases, weighed carefully against resistance. Referral to a urologist, a specialist in the urinary tract, is considered when infections are frequent despite measures, when there is blood in the urine between episodes, when men or children are affected, or when imaging or a look inside the bladder is warranted.

What recurrence should not become is a cycle of repeated online purchases, borrowed antibiotics, or leftover courses from a previous illness. Each of those makes the next infection harder to treat and delays the assessment that could break the pattern.

What people often get wrong about bladder infections

Some beliefs about UTIs are so widespread they pass for common sense. Several do not hold up.

“Cranberry juice will clear it.” Cranberry contains compounds that may reduce how well certain bacteria stick to the bladder lining, and there is modest evidence for a preventive effect in some women who get frequent infections. There is no good evidence that it treats an established infection. Drinking it is harmless for most people, but it should not delay a visit when one is warranted.

“If it isn’t burning badly, it isn’t serious.” Severity of urinary symptoms says little about whether the kidneys are involved. Fever and flank pain can develop with only mild burning.

“Poor hygiene causes UTIs.” Infections are usually about anatomy, sexual activity, hormones and bladder emptying, not cleanliness. Aggressive washing, douching and scented products can make matters worse by disturbing protective bacteria. Nobody should feel ashamed of an infection that affects a large share of women at some point in life.

“Antibiotics left over from last time will do.” The previous infection may have involved different bacteria, the medicine may be inappropriate for the current situation, and an incomplete course encourages resistance. Old prescriptions are for returning to a pharmacy, not for reuse.

“Cloudy or smelly urine on its own means infection.” Concentration, diet, certain foods and supplements all change color and odor. Bacteria in the urine without symptoms, called asymptomatic bacteriuria, is common in older adults and generally not treated outside pregnancy.

“Holding it in is fine if you’re busy.” Regular emptying is part of how the bladder defends itself. Long gaps give bacteria time to multiply.

Each of these myths leads to the same two errors: waiting when you should be seen, or treating when you should be assessed.

Questions to ask your care team

A short appointment goes further when you arrive with questions ready. These are the ones that tend to change what happens next.

• Based on my symptoms and examination, do you think this infection is confined to the bladder, or is there any sign it has reached the kidneys?
• Do I need a urine culture, and if so, will the plan change once the result comes back?
• Is it reasonable for me to wait a little longer before starting an antibiotic, and if so, what exactly should prompt me to start or to call you?
• If you are prescribing an antibiotic, what improvement should I expect, and by when? What does it mean if I am not better after 48 hours?
• Are there interactions with anything else I take, including contraception, supplements or over-the-counter medicines?
• Should I be seen again after this course, or is a follow-up test needed?
• Given my history, do I meet the definition of recurrent infection, and would it help to look for a cause or agree a longer-term plan?
• Are there changes to fluid intake, bladder habits, contraception or, after menopause, local treatments that might reduce my risk of another episode?
• Which symptoms would mean I should go to an emergency department rather than wait for the next available appointment?
• For a child or an older relative: what should I watch for at home, and who do I contact out of hours?

Write the answers down. In particular, ask for the stopping rule, the point at which waiting ends and action begins, in plain terms you can repeat back. The most useful thing a clinician can give you, alongside any prescription, is a clear sense of what normal recovery looks like and what would count as a deviation from it.

When to call your doctor

Everything above can be distilled into a simple set of triggers. Keep them somewhere visible for the next time a Tuesday afternoon takes an uncomfortable turn.

Call the same day, or use an urgent care or out-of-hours service, if you have any of the following alongside urinary symptoms: a temperature above normal or shaking chills; pain in your back or side under the ribs; nausea or vomiting; visible blood or clots in the urine; new confusion, drowsiness or unsteadiness in an older adult; symptoms in a child, a man, a pregnant woman, or anyone with diabetes, a catheter, kidney disease or a weakened immune system. The NHS and Mayo Clinic both treat these as reasons not to wait.

Call for an emergency assessment if you or the person you are caring for develops signs that suggest sepsis: rapid breathing, a fast heartbeat, skin that is mottled, pale or unusually cold, very little urine over many hours, extreme drowsiness or difficulty staying awake, or a sense of being severely unwell. Sepsis from a urinary source is uncommon but it is a medical emergency.

Book a routine appointment if mild bladder symptoms have not started to improve after about 2 days of fluids and rest; if symptoms return within a few weeks of finishing treatment; if you are on treatment and have seen no change after 48 hours; or if you have had 2 or more infections in 6 months or 3 or more in a year.

None of this replaces the judgment of a clinician who can examine you and test your urine. The purpose of knowing the triggers is to make sure that conversation happens at the right time, neither so early that it was unnecessary nor so late that a bladder infection has become something more. The decision about what to do next always sits with you and your treating team.

Frequently asked questions

How long should you wait before seeing a doctor for a UTI?

About 2 days, and only if you are a healthy, non-pregnant woman with symptoms limited to the bladder. The NHS advises contacting a doctor if burning, urgency and frequency have not started to improve within that window. Anyone with fever, back or side pain, vomiting or blood in the urine, and anyone who is male, pregnant, a child, over 65 or immunocompromised, should not wait at all.

How to tell if it's a UTI or bladder infection?

A bladder infection is a UTI, so the real question is which part of the urinary tract is involved. Bladder infections cause burning, urgency, frequency and low pelvic pressure without fever. Infections that have reached the kidneys add whole-body signs: high temperature, chills, pain in the side or back under the ribs, and nausea. Only a clinician can confirm the location, but that symptom pattern is the most useful early clue.

What are the 5 warning signs of a bladder infection getting worse?

The signs that matter most are fever or shaking chills, pain in the back or flank, nausea or vomiting, visible blood in the urine, and new confusion or drowsiness, especially in an older adult. Each suggests the infection may be spreading beyond the bladder toward the kidneys or bloodstream. Any one of them is a reason to be assessed the same day rather than continuing to watch and wait at home.

Can a UTI go away on its own?

A mild bladder infection in a healthy woman sometimes does. The NHS notes that mild cystitis often clears within about 3 days with fluids and rest. That does not apply to men, pregnant women, children, older adults or people with reduced immunity, and it does not apply once any red-flag symptom appears. Symptoms that fade and then return a week or two later suggest the infection was suppressed rather than cleared, and warrant a visit.

What does it mean if I have UTI symptoms but a negative test?

A negative dipstick does not always rule out infection; some bacteria do not produce the chemicals the strip detects, and early or dilute samples can miss them. A urine culture is more reliable. Persistent symptoms with repeatedly negative cultures may point to other causes, such as urethral irritation, vaginal or hormonal changes after menopause, a sexually transmitted infection, or bladder pain syndrome. Your clinician can decide which investigations fit your situation.

Should men always see a doctor for a bladder infection?

Yes, mainstream guidance including the Mayo Clinic and NHS advises men to seek care with a first episode. Bladder infections are uncommon in men because the male urethra is longer, so an infection often signals an underlying issue such as prostate enlargement or incomplete bladder emptying. Treatment courses also tend to be longer than for women, and the prostate itself may be involved, which changes how the clinician manages it.

Is a bladder infection dangerous during pregnancy?

It can be, which is why pregnant women are asked to be seen promptly even with mild symptoms. Hormonal changes and pressure from the uterus slow urine drainage, making it easier for bacteria to reach the kidneys. Kidney infection in pregnancy is associated with preterm labor and low birth weight. Urine is routinely screened during antenatal care because bacteria without symptoms are also treated in pregnancy, unlike in most other adults.

How quickly should antibiotics work for a bladder infection?

Symptoms usually begin to improve within a day or two of starting an appropriate antibiotic, according to the NHS. Complete resolution generally follows by the end of the prescribed course. If there has been no improvement at all after about 48 hours, contact the prescriber; the bacteria may be resistant to the chosen medicine, and a culture result or a different choice may be needed. Finish the course as directed even if you feel better sooner.

Does cranberry juice treat a UTI?

No. Cranberry compounds may reduce bacterial adhesion to the bladder wall, and there is modest evidence for a preventive effect in some women with frequent infections, but there is no reliable evidence that cranberry treats an active infection. It is generally harmless for most people, though it can interact with certain blood thinners. Drinking it should never delay a doctor’s visit when red-flag symptoms or high-risk circumstances are present.

When should a bladder infection be seen in an emergency department?

Go to an emergency department, or call emergency services, if urinary symptoms are accompanied by signs of sepsis: rapid breathing, a racing heart, mottled or clammy skin, very little urine over many hours, extreme drowsiness, or feeling severely unwell. A high fever with flank pain and vomiting that prevents keeping fluids down also justifies emergency assessment, particularly in pregnancy, in young children and in frail older adults.

References

• NHS: Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• NHS: Kidney infection
• Cleveland Clinic: Urinary tract infections
• MedlinePlus: Urinary tract infections

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.