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ER or urgent care?

UTI or kidney infection: when to go to the ER

Most urinary tract infections are bladder infections, which cause burning, frequent urination and pressure in the lower belly 1. A healthcare professional can prescribe antibiotics 1. A kidney infection is more serious 1; get care right away if you have its symptoms 2.

Find urgent care near you Or find the nearest ER. Updated November 15, 2026; every fact links to its source below.
Photo of a person on a sofa with a hand on their lower back and a glass of water nearby

Go to the ER or call 911 if

  • Signs of sepsis: confusion, fast breathing or heart rate, severe pain, or shortness of breath 2
  • Fever, chills, back or side pain, and vomiting that keeps you from holding down fluids or medicine 3 1
  • You feel very sick 4
  • A baby younger than 3 months with a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher 1

In older adults, confusion may be the only sign of a kidney infection 3.

If you’re not sure, go to the ER. Find the nearest ER.

When urgent care can help

Get care right away, the same day, for kidney infection signs: fever, chills, back or side pain, nausea or vomiting 1 2. We didn’t find a neutral source on urgent care for UTIs, but any clinic that can see you that day is better than waiting.

Find urgent care near you, with hours and phone numbers. Not sure what it costs? See ER vs urgent care cost.

Who should be seen in person

  • Anyone with kidney infection signs 2
  • People who are pregnant, older adults and young children, who are at higher risk 1
  • Men, and people with kidney stones or recent urinary surgery 3 1
  • Children under 2 with a high fever, which may be the only sign 2

Simple bladder infection? See a provider online

For burning or frequent urination without fever, back pain or vomiting, and if you aren’t pregnant, an online visit is one way to see a provider who can decide whether you need an antibiotic 1. You’ll leave ER.com when you continue. More on UTI online.

See a provider online

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Common questions

UTI or kidney infection: when to go to the ER, answered.

General information, not medical advice or a diagnosis.

When should I go to the ER for a UTI?
Go if you have confusion, fast breathing or heart rate, severe pain 2, or fever and back pain with vomiting that stops you keeping fluids or medicine down 3.
How do I know if a UTI has spread to my kidneys?
Kidney infection signs include fever, chills, lower back or side pain, and nausea or vomiting 1. Get care right away 2.
Can a kidney infection be treated at home?
It needs antibiotics from a provider; people who are very sick may need a hospital 4.
See a provider online now Only if it’s not an emergency. ER.com may earn a commission through affiliate links, at no added cost to you.

Related conditions

UTI

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Sources

  1. CDC: About urinary tract infections (reviewed Sept. 22, 2026)
  2. NIDDK: Symptoms and causes of kidney infection (reviewed Oct. 2024)
  3. MedlinePlus: Urinary tract infection, adults (reviewed July 22, 2026)
  4. NIDDK: Treatment for kidney infection (reviewed Oct. 2024)

Last updated November 15, 2026. General information from the sources above, not medical advice or a diagnosis, and not a substitute for being seen. If you’re not sure whether something is an emergency, go to the ER or call 911.

This is not for emergencies.

For life-threatening symptoms, severe chest pain, trouble breathing, or immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.