WHAT ARE KIDNEY DISEASES?????????

What are kidney diseases?
 Kidney diseases are diseases of the kidney substance that alter the structure and function of the kidney. There are many diseases of the kidneys such as glomerulonephritis, pylonephritis, polycystic kidney, nephrotic syndrome and lupus nephritis. The treatment and potential for recovery depends on the type of disease. Kidney diseases can lead to the kidney failure.

What are the signs and symptoms of kidney diseases?
 1. Burning sensation during urination.
2. A change in the frequency or pattern of urination.
3. Passing bloody or coffee-coloured urine.
4. Puffiness around eyes, swelling of hands, feet or abdomen.
5. Pain in the lower back area just below the rib cage.
6. High blood pressure.

If these symptoms are present, consult a doctor. Further investigations need to be carried out to find out the cause. It is possible that a person may not have these symptoms even though he/she is losing kidney function. The clue to kidney disease may be abnormal urine findings picked up on urine tests alone.

 

What is kidney failure?
 Kidney failure is a condition where the kidneys are incapable of performing its normal functions. Certain toxic substances which should have been excreted such as urea and creatinine are accumulated in the body. These levels if high enough cause symptoms such as tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite and vomiting. Creatinine is the breakdown product of muscles. The blood creatinine level is often used by doctors as a measure for the degree of kidney failure. Generally, when the creatinine level in the blood reaches a level of 900 µmol/L the patient should start on dialysis.

In kidney failure, the volume of water in the body increases and swelling of the tissues results. Excess salt and water retention may cause high blood pressure, swelling of the legs, face and abdomen and breathlessness. The kidneys fail to excrete phosphate, causing the blood phosphate level to increase and calcium level to fall. This results in bone disease and may predispose the patient to fractures of the bones. The bone problem is also worsened by the lack of active Vitamin D. Inadequate production of erythropoeitin leads to anaemia.

Causes of kidney failure
The common causes of kidney failure are glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the kidney) and diabetes mellitus. Other causes are kidney stones, polycystic kidneys, systemic lupus erythematosus, uncontrolled hypertension and drugs.

What are the symptoms of kidney failure?
In mild kidney failure, no symptoms are present although kidney tests show some abnormalities. As kidney failure worsens, the patient may experience the following:-

1 pale and sallow complexion
2 fatigue
3 shortness of breath
4 body itch
5 poor appetite, sometimes accompanied with nausea and vomiting
6 swelling of the face and legs
7 frequent urination at night or
8 passes little urine
   

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