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

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

* Mental changes or confusion may be the only signs of a urinary tract infection in the elderly.

A physical exam may show tenderness when the health care provider presses (palpates) the area of the kidney.

• Blood culture may show an infection.
• Urinalysis commonly reveals white or red blood cells in the urine.
• Other urine tests may show bacteria in the urine.

An intravenous pyelogram (IVP) or CT scan of the abdomen may show swollen kidneys. These tests can also help rule out underlying disorders.

Additional tests and procedures that may be done include:

• Kidney biopsy
• Kidney scan
• Kidney ultrasound
• Voiding cystourethrogram

Images

Kidney anatomy

Kidney - blood and urine flow

Tuberculosis in the kidney

Anatomical landmarks, back view

Anatomical landmarks, side view

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Review Date: 09/18/2008
Reviewed By: Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)