RFSymptoms: Safety netting advice
ChildrenKidney infection
DATE LAST REVIEWED: 05/11/2026
When to seek further review
- A suspected kidney infection in a child needs prompt medical assessment. A baby under 3 months should be assessed urgently by a children’s specialist.
- If already on treatment, get review if there is no improvement within 48 hours, or sooner for worsening symptoms.
- Get urgent help for vomiting, poor feeding or drinking, worsening tummy or back pain, fewer wet nappies, less pee or fever with worsening illness.
- Keep the follow-up plan for urine results and any scans or further tests.
- Do not wait for the suggested review time if symptoms become worse, new symptoms appear, or you are worried.
- Contact your GP when the surgery is open. If it is closed, you cannot get the help you need, or you are unsure what to do, call NHS 111. You can call even if you are not sure whether the symptoms are serious.
When to get emergency help
(Immediately dial 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department)
- New confusion, slurred speech, extreme drowsiness or collapse.
- Severe or rapidly worsening pain with severe illness.
- Severe breathing difficulty or very fast breathing.
- No pee or almost no pee together with marked weakness, faintness or severe illness.
- Cold, clammy or blotchy skin, especially with shaking chills or a racing heartbeat.
- Severe difficulty breathing, pauses in breathing, grunting, or the skin pulling in deeply under or between the ribs.
- Being very difficult to wake or unresponsive.
- Being unusually floppy, confused or not responding as usual.
- Blue, grey, very pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue.
How to spot sepsis
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection. It can get worse quickly. If someone is seriously unwell and may have sepsis, call 999 or go to your nearest Emergency Department. Do not wait for every sign, a high temperature or a rash.
An unwell child under 5 who has not had a pee or wet nappy for 12 hours needs emergency assessment. If you are unsure and there are no emergency signs, call NHS 111 for advice.
