Kidney Failure

Also called "Renal Failure"

Kidney failure is a reduction of kidney function that so serious that it threatens health and even life itself. Often, when a diseased kidney fails, it may need to be surgically removed. In cases where both kidneys have failed, dialysis or even kidney transplantation may be necessary. 

Kidney failure can happen in a matter of days, but more often it occurs over a period of months or even years. 

When this type of kidney problem occurs quickly, it's known as acute kidney failure. In these cases, symptoms develop rapidly.

There's another type of kidney problem which takes more gradually, known as CRF or chronic renal failure. In these cases, destruction to the cells of the kidney has been taking place over a period of months or even years, and irreversible damage has already occurred by the time symptoms present themselves.

Kidney failure often occurs as a result of other health problems and diseases, including diabetes and high blood pressure.

Kidney failure often requires hospitalization.

A type of kidney failure known as interstitial nephritis can result from an severe reaction to certain medications. People with this type of kidney failure generally recover because the situation is temporary.

Symptoms of kidney failure (renal failure)

Kidney failure or renal failure symptoms depend on the nature of the disease: either acute or chronic.

Acute kidney failure symptoms typically include:

• a feeling of confusion
• unusual or unexplained fatigue
• a tendency to retain fluids
• intestinal bleeding
• tissue swelling
• low urine output (also known as oliguria)
• in severe cases, coma or seizures

Chronic kidney failure symptoms might include

• anemia,
• bleeding, including blood in stools or vomit,
• a tendency to bruise easily,
• unusually excessive urine output,
• insufficient urine flow,
• a condition called uremic frost, in which white crystals begin to appear in and on the skin,
• yellow-brown skin color
• lowered mental alertness
• muscle cramps and twitchings
• nocturia or nighttime urination
• a numb sensation in the extremities
• unusual or unexplained sleeping problems
• seizures

Kidney failure treatment

If you notice many of the symptoms listed above beggining to appear, you should talk to your doctor about the following:

• Medicines that may be cause the illness
• Possible presence of infections, diabetes or high blood pressure.

Other treatments could include taking steroids or in extreme cases, kidney removal, kidney dialysis or kidney transplantation. 

We also have a special dedicated to kidney failure treatment options.