Types & Causes | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment
Glomerulonephritis is a type of kidney disease in which the
kidney filters become inflammed and slowly loses its ability to remove waste and excess water. Inflammation can cause too much protein and other substances to leak from the blood into the urine. READ MORE »
Types | Causes | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Complications | Treatment
Kidneys can get damaged by sudden acute loss of blood and cause sudden kidney (renal) failure. This rapid drop in the kidney function is called acute renal failure. When ARF occurs, waste products, such as nitrogen, salt and fluid can accumulate, upsetting the body’s normal chemical balance. Chemicals and electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, and calcium, which are needed for normal body functioning, become toxic to the body when they reach abnormally high or low levels.
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Types & Causes | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment
Polycystic Kidney Disease is the most common genetic, life threatening disease characterized by the growth of numerous fluid-filled cysts in the kidneys. These cysts grow and multiply over time, slowly replace much of the mass of the kidneys. Ultimately, the diseased kidney shuts down causing end-stage renal disease for which dialysis and transplantation are the only forms of treatment.
Polycystic Disease can cause cysts to develop in your liver, pancreas, membranes that surround your brain and central nervous system, and seminal vesicles. If PKD affects the brain, it can cause an aneurysm (a bulging blood vessel that can rupture).
Types & Causes
The two types of Polycystic Kidney Disease caused by different genetic flaws are :
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) – One of the most common inherited form, often called ‘adult polycystic kidney disease’. Signs and symptoms of this form often develop between the ages of 30 and 40. Each child has a 50% chance of getting the disease, if one parent has ADPKD.
Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) A rare inherited form, often called ‘infantile PKD’. Signs and symptoms of this form may appear shortly after birth or even in the womb. Children born with autosomal recessive PKD usually develop kidney failure within a few years. Sometimes, symptoms don’t appear until later in childhood or during adolescence. Each child has a 25% chance of getting the disease, if one parent has ADPKD.
Acquired cystic kidney disease (ACKD) is the non-inherited form of polycystic kidney disease. ACKD develops with long-term kidney problems, especially in patients who have kidney failure and who have been on dialysis for a long time. The cysts of ACKD may bleed. Kidney tumors, including renal cancer can develop in people with ACKD. READ MORE »
Types | Causes | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment
Kidney stones, also known as nephrolithiasis, urolithiasis or renal calculi, is one of the most common disorder of the urinary tract. It is a hard mass developed from the crystals that separate from the urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney. Urine has a normal chemical balance of water, salts, minerals, and other substances. Factors that affect the normal balance of the urine can lead to stone formation. READ MORE »
Chronic kidney disease results when a disease slowly destroys the kidneys. It can be caused by a primary kidney disease or result from a disease elsewhere in the body that injures the kidneys or prevents them from working. Chronic form is particularly dangerous, usually with no symptoms until the kidney function is less than one tenth of norma
Causes | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Stages | Treatment
kidney
Causes
The major causes of Chronic kidney disease (CKD) are diabetes and high blood pressure. Inflammation of the filtering structures (glomeruli) inside the kidney, overuse of medication can also cause chronic kidney disease.
Other causes of CKD include infection, sickle cell disease, heroin abuse, amyloidosis, kidney stones, kidney infections and certain cancers. In patients having diabetes, high blood pressure and excess body fat, the risk of developing CKD is very high
Symptoms
At the early stage chronic kidney disease do not have any symptoms. It become noticeable as the disease worsens and it can affect different body systems. Some symptoms represent the possibility of a severe complication of chronic kidney disease. READ MORE »
Kidneys are two small bean shaped organs, each about the size of the fist, located on either side of the spine just above the waist at the small of the back. It is a part of the urinary system. Each kidney is about 10cm long, 5-6cm wide, 2.5cm thick and weighs between 115 to 170g in the adult human. The right kidney is situated slightly lower than the left because the liver pushes it down.
The outer portion of the kidney called cortex is composed of blood vessels and urine tubes and is supported by a fibrous matrix. Deep to the cortex lies the medulla which is divided into 10-20 conical regions called renal pyramids. Renal pyramids also known as the malphighian pyramids contains the secreting apparatus and tubules. Each pyramid together with the associated overlying cortex forms a renal lobe.
The tip of each pyramid (called a papilla) empties into a calyx, which empties into the renal pelvis. Pelvis forms a small reservoir for urine produced by the kidney. The whole kidney is covered by a membrane called renal capsule.
The cortex and the medulla are made up of nephrons, which is the most basic functional units of the kidney and each kidney contains about a millions of nephrons. Filtration, re-absorption and secretion of the blood occurs in the nephron. Each nephron is made of a glomerulus and a tubule. The glomerulus is like a miniature filtering or sieving device while the tubule is a tiny tubelike structure attached to the glomerulus.
Functions
The kidneys regulate the body’s fluid volume, mineral composition and acidity. The vital function of kidneys is to separate urea, mineral salts toxins and other waste products from the blood. They preserve water, salt and electrolytes; controls the level of chemicals like sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, sulfate, phosphate and hydrogen. In addition to this, kidneys release three important hormones. They are Erythropoietin (EPO) which stimulates the bones to make red blood cells, Renin which regulates blood pressure and Active form of vitamin D which helps to maintain calcium for bones and for normal chemical balance in the body.
The waste products are generated in the body from normal metabolic processes including the breakdown of active tissues, ingested foods, and other substances. To separate these waste and extra water, the blood enters the kidney through the renal artery, creates urine, which flows to the bladder through tubes called ureters. The clean blood flows back to other parts of the body. This process takes place throughout the life of the kidneys. The kidneys process about 200 liters of blood every day and produce about 2 liters of urine. For maintaining life at least one kidney must function properly.
Kidney Failure
When the kidneys become diseased or damaged, they lose their ability to perform their vital functions. As a result, waste products and excess fluids build up in the blood, become toxic and damage the body. This may cause a variety of symptoms, particularly swelling of the hands and feet, shortness of breath, and a frequent urge to urinate.
Most kidney disease attack the nephron and destroy them which cause to lose their filtering capacity. Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common cause of kidney disease. Injury, exposure to toxins and certain medications and trauma can lead to kidney disease.
If the blood supply to the kidneys is reduced considerably from blood loss, a fall in blood pressure
, severe dehydration or lack of salt, then the kidneys may be damaged. This may lead to permanent damage to the kidney tissue.
Kidney (Renal) failure occurs when the kidneys partly or completely lose their filtering ability. Acute and Chronic are the two types of Renal failure. When kidney failure happens suddenly it is called acute renal failure. Chronic renal failure usually develops slowly, with few signs or symptoms in the early stage. Mild kidney disease is often called renal insufficiency.
Symptoms to look out for
If any of the following symptoms are noticed, do not avoid it. Consult a physician to know the cause of the symptoms.
1. Changes in Urination
* increased urination at night.
* passing of very small amounts of urine.
* urine may be foamy or bubbly.
* blood in urine
* having difficulty in urinating
2. Swelling, particularly of the hands and feet, and puffiness around the eyes.
3. Persistent fatigue
4. Skin Rash/ Itching
5. Unpleasant taste in the mouth/Ammonia Breath
6. Nausea and Vomiting
7. Shortness of Breath
8. Feeling Cold
9. Dizziness and Trouble Concentrating
10. Leg/ Flank Pain
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