Urinary Problems And Injuries, Age 12 And Older: Check Your Symptoms

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When to See a Doctor

Do you have symptoms of a kidney infection?

See significance of symptoms of a kidney infection if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have continuous, severeflank pain?

Yes

Are you pregnant?

Yes

Do you have diabetes?

Yes

Do you have a medical condition or take a medicine that affects the immune system?

Yes

Do you have only one kidney?

Yes

Do you have a Foley catheter in place?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have continuous, moderate flank pain?

Yes

Do you have a fever?

Yes

Do you have burning with urination?

Yes

Do you have to urinate frequently, but you are not able to pass much urine?

Yes

Do you have nausea or vomiting?

Yes

Do you have cloudy or bad-smelling urine?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Have you had continuous mild flank pain for 24 hours or longer, but you do not have other symptoms?

You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have flank pain that comes and goes (intermittent), but you do not have other symptoms?

Yes

Do you have vague urinary symptoms that have been evaluated by a health professional but are not following the expected course?

Yes

Have you had vague urinary symptoms for 1 week or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Last updated:	May 17, 2007
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, Philip Belitsky, MD, FRCSC - Urology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer