This is usually the cause of kidney infections that happen in childhood. In addition, problems with chemical changes in the body, such as diabetes, can increase a person's risk of getting kidney infections.
Kidney infections are more common in women than in men.
They are also more likely to happen during pregnancy, due to the additional pressure that a developing baby puts on the bladder and kidney tubes, as well as a slowing of drainage through the kidney tubes. If left untreated, a kidney infection can develop quickly, infecting one or both kidneys. It may result in permanent damage to the kidneys, or in rare instances, they may stop working altogether. In addition, if a kidney infection is left untreated in a pregnant woman, it may cause premature labor. Because of the danger of permanent kidney damage, kidney failure, or of premature labor in a pregnant woman, a doctor should be called anytime the symptoms of a kidney infection occur.