Once you've been diagnosed with a kidney infection, your GP will discuss your treatment with you.
Most people can be treated at home by taking a course of antibiotics and possibly painkillers too.
Antibiotics
If you're being treated at home, you will be prescribed a seven-day course of antibiotic tablets or capsules.
For most people, apart from pregnant women, antibiotics called ciprofloxacin or Co-amoxiclav are usually recommended.
Common side effects of ciprofloxacin include feeling sick and diarrhoea.
Co-amoxiclav sometimes makes the contraceptive pill and contraceptive patches less effective, so you may need to use another form of contraception during the course of treatment.
A 14-day course of an antibiotic called cefalexin is recommended for pregnant women.
Contact your GP for advice if your symptoms fail to improve within 24 hours after starting to take antibiotics.
Painkillers
Taking a painkiller, such as paracetamol, should help to relieve symptoms of pain and a high temperature.
Drinking water
It's also important to drink plenty of fluids because this will help prevent you becoming dehydrated, and it will help to flush out the bacteria from your kidneys. Aim to drink enough so that you're frequently passing pale coloured urine.
Self-help tips
If you have a kidney infection, try not to ‘hover’ over the toilet seat when you go to the loo, because it can result in your bladder not being fully emptied.
Make sure that you get plenty of rest. A kidney infection can be physically draining, even if you're normally healthy and strong. It may take up to two weeks before you're fit enough to return to work.
Treatment at hospital
In some instances, you'll need to be treated in hospital rather than at home. Hospital treatment may be needed if:
- you're severely dehydrated
- you're unable to swallow or keep down any fluids or medications
- you have additional symptoms that suggest you may have blood poisoning, such as a rapid heartbeat and losing consciousness
- you're pregnant and you also have a high temperature
- you're particularly frail and your general health is poor
- your symptoms fail to improve within 24 hours of starting treatment with antibiotics
- you have a weakened immune system
- you have a foreign body inside your urinary tract, such as a kidney stone or a urinary catheter you have diabetes
- you're over 65 years old
- you have an underlying condition that affects the way your kidneys work, such as polycystic kidney disease or chronic kidney disease
If you're admitted to hospital with a kidney infection, you'll probably be attached to a drip so that you can be given fluids to help keep you hydrated. Antibiotics can also be given through the drip.
You'll have regular blood and urine tests to monitor your health and monitor how effectively the antibiotics are fighting off the infection.
Most people respond well to treatment. As long as there are no complications, they're usually well enough to leave hospital within three to seven days.
Now, read about the complications of kidney infection.
