The Symptoms & Causes Of A Kidney Infection

Risk Factors Associated With Kidney Infections

There are various risk factors that can put the possibility of an individual developing a kidney infection including being female, pregnancy, a urinary tract blockage, a weakened immune system, nerve damage around the bladder, a urine catheter, and a condition resulting in urine flowing in the wrong direction. On average, women are more prone to developing a kidney infection than men, as the urethra is shorter in women, which makes it substantially easier for bacteria to travel from outside of the body to the bladder, and once in the bladder, bacteria can spread to the kidneys.

Pregnant women have an even higher chance of developing a kidney infection due to this biological design. A urinary tract blockage includes anything that slows the flow of urine or decreases an individual’s ability to empty the bladder completely when urinating, such as a kidney stone, something abnormal in the urinary tract’s structure, or for men, an enlarged prostate gland. A weakened immune system includes medical conditions that impair the immune system such as diabetes and HIV, and specific medications.