Kidney infection (pyelonephritis)

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Anatomical landmarks, back view	Anatomical landmarks, side view	Kidney anatomy	Kidney - blood and urine flow
Tuberculosis in the kidney

Urinary tract infection - complicated; Infection - kidney; Complicated urinary tract infection; Pyelonephritis

• Flank pain or back pain
• Severe abdominal pain (occurs occasionally)
• Fever
  • Higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Persists for more than 2 days
• Chills with shaking
• Warm skin
• Flushed or reddened skin
• Moist skin (diaphoresis)
• Vomiting, nausea
• Fatigue
• General ill feeling
• Painful urination
• Increased urinary frequency or urgency
• Need to urinate at night (nocturia)
• Cloudy or abnormal urine color
• Blood in the urine
• Foul or strong urine odor
• Mental changes or confusion *

An examination may show tenderness on palpation (pressing) over the kidney.

• A urinalysis commonly reveals white blood cells (WBCs) or red blood cells (RBCs) in the urine.
• A urine culture from aclean catch or urine culture (catheterized specimen) may reveal bacteria in the urine.
• A blood culture may show an infection.
• An intravenous pyelogram (IVP) or CT scan of the abdomen may show enlarged kidneys with poor flow of dye through the kidneys. IVP and CT scan of the abdomen can also indicate underlying disorders.

• Voiding cystourethrogram
• Renal ultrasound
• Renal scan
• Renal biopsy

Review Date: 07/25/2006
Reviewed By: David M. Charytan, M.D., M.Sc., Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.