Medically reviewed by
Medically reviewed by
Dr Amanda Northridge
GP & Medical Reviewer·MBBS·GMC 2847829
Speak to a GP today about a possible kidney infection — video within 90 minutes, or in-clinic in Manchester the same day. Kidney infections can be serious and often need antibiotics urgently.
GP appointments from £125 — see full pricing
A video call is enough to decide whether you need in-clinic care, hospital referral or a same-day prescription.
For vital signs, urine dip and hands-on examination — same-day appointments in Manchester.
A qualified GP reviews your symptoms and how long you've had them. In-clinic preferred so we can check vital signs; video works for triage.
Your GP checks for red flags — high fever, rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, confusion. If sepsis is suspected, you'll be sent straight to A&E.
Mild cases get a longer oral antibiotic course. Moderate or severe cases need IV antibiotics in hospital — we arrange that pathway the same day.
Kidney infections (pyelonephritis) usually start as a urinary tract infection that travels up from the bladder to the kidneys. They're more serious than a straightforward UTI — without prompt antibiotics they can damage the kidneys or enter the bloodstream. Factors that make a kidney infection more likely:
If you have confusion, severe pain, very fast heart rate or breathing, or uncontrollable shivering, call 999 or go to A&E. Kidney infections can progress to sepsis quickly.
Back pain with a fever has several possible causes. A GP can tell the difference quickly and escalate if needed.
High fever with shaking chills, severe back or flank pain, vomiting that stops you keeping fluids down, confusion, or feeling so unwell you can't function are 999 / A&E calls — kidney infections can become serious quickly and need urgent assessment, not a private GP appointment.
For milder cases that don't need hospital care, yes — your GP examines you, takes a urine sample for the lab, and starts antibiotics if the picture fits a kidney infection. For anyone unwell enough to need IV antibiotics or hospital monitoring, your GP arranges urgent escalation rather than treating at home.
A standard UTI sits in the bladder and brings burning, urgency and frequency without much else. A kidney infection involves the upper urinary tract and adds fever, back or flank pain (usually one side), nausea and feeling generally unwell. The pattern matters because treatment course and risk are different.
Yes — your GP sends a urine sample to the lab to confirm the infection and check which antibiotic the bug is sensitive to. Treatment usually starts before results come back, then gets adjusted if the lab finds a better-targeted antibiotic.
Antibiotic courses for kidney infections are usually 7–14 days — longer than for a standard UTI. You should start feeling better within 48–72 hours; if you're not improving, getting worse, or developing new symptoms, you need urgent review (potentially A&E) rather than waiting out the course.
Recurrent kidney infections need a closer look — your GP reviews triggers, checks for resistance patterns from previous courses, arranges imaging (ultrasound or CT) to look for structural causes, and refers to urology when needed. We don't treat recurrent kidney infection as a series of one-offs.
Video or in-clinic, 15 minutes. Your GP takes a focused history, examines you, and explains what they think is going on.
Blood tests, swabs, urine samples or imaging — your GP arranges what fits and shares the timeline at the appointment.
Prescriptions sent electronically to your pharmacy after the call. Sick notes issued at the visit. Specialist referral letters written the same day when needed.
Sources: NHS Kidney infection · NICE CKS Pyelonephritis — acute