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uk Health & medical scares back pain with fever • flank pain and fever • kidney infection symptoms • urinary symptoms starting • burning when peeing • needing to pee often • urgent need to pee • blood in urine • cloudy or smelly urine • chills and shivers • fever with back ache • suspected pyelonephritis • sudden one sided back pain • uti getting worse • pain under the ribs • feeling sick with urinary pain • back pain plus uti symptoms • fever and urinary urgency

What to do if…
you notice sudden back pain with fever and urinary symptoms starting

Short answer

Get urgent help today: contact your GP for an urgent appointment, or use NHS 111 if you cannot get help quickly from your GP. Fever/shivers with pain in the back just under the ribs plus urinary symptoms can be a kidney infection and needs prompt assessment.

Do not do these things

  • Do not wait overnight to see if it settles if you have fever/shivers plus back/flank pain and urinary symptoms.
  • Do not take leftover antibiotics or someone else’s antibiotics.
  • Do not “push through” by taking extra doses of painkillers beyond the packet directions.
  • Do not drive yourself if you feel faint, confused, very weak, or the pain is severe.
  • Do not ignore possible sepsis signs: acting confused or not making sense, breathing very fast/struggling to breathe, or blue/grey/pale/blotchy skin, lips or tongue.

What to do now

  1. Seek urgent NHS advice now. Call 111 (or use 111 online) and say: “fever/shivers + pain in my back just under the ribs (flank) + urinary symptoms (burning/urgency/frequency)” and when it started.
  2. Call 999 or go to A&E now if you have sepsis warning signs. Especially if you are confused/not making sense, very hard/fast breathing, blue/grey/pale/blotchy skin/lips/tongue, or a rash that does not fade when pressed.
  3. If you have kidney-infection “red flag” symptoms, treat it as same-day urgent even if you’re not at 999-level. Ask for urgent assessment today via 111/urgent GP if you have any of:
    • pain in the back just under the ribs, plus fever/shivers
    • being sick (vomiting) or you cannot keep fluids down
    • blood in your urine
    • very low temperature (below 36°C) or you feel unusually cold/shivery and unwell
    • you have not peed all day (or you’re peeing very little)
    • you are pregnant
  4. Spend 60 seconds collecting what clinicians will ask.
    • Your temperature (if you can check it) and whether the pain is one-sided.
    • Any vomiting, blood in urine, and when you last peed.
    • Medication list and allergies (especially antibiotic allergies).
  5. Keep it simple while you’re arranging care.
    • Sip water if you can keep it down.
    • Take simple pain/fever relief only as directed and only if it is normally safe for you (if you’ve been told to avoid certain medicines because of kidneys, stomach ulcers, blood thinners, or pregnancy, don’t take them).
    • If you feel very unwell, ask someone to stay with you or check in frequently.

What can wait

  • You do not need to work out the exact cause (UTI vs kidney infection vs stone) right now — the priority is being assessed urgently.
  • You do not need to make decisions about work, childcare, travel, or long-term treatment today beyond arranging to be seen safely.
  • You do not need to try multiple home remedies or supplements first.

Important reassurance

This symptom combination can make you feel suddenly frightened and unwell. Seeking urgent assessment is a sensible, protective step — and it often leads to quicker relief.

Scope note

This is first steps only for the first hours. Follow the plan you’re given after assessment, and seek urgent re-assessment if you worsen.

Important note

This is general information, not a diagnosis. If symptoms are severe, rapidly worsening, or you have sepsis warning signs, call 999 or go to A&E.

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