Acute and Chronic Kidney Disease

There are two types of kidney problems. One is acute and the other type is chronic. Acute kidney infection happens when there is a rapid loss of kidney function. It can be due to dehydration, urinary tract infection, or any event including blood loss. Mostly acute conditions can be reversed if the underlying cause is removed. Whereas, the second condition called chronic kidney disease involves the gradual loss of kidney function. It is caused by systemic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure. Chronic kidney disease can eventually lead to complete loss of kidney function. It’s not apparent and patients do not get to know about it until there is a significant amount of kidney damage.

Symptoms:

With acute kidney disease, the symptoms develop suddenly and severely. It is progressed by multiple conditions that together cause rapid kidney damage. The symptoms include a rapid decline in urination, weakness, shortness of breath, swelling of extremities, irregular heartbeat, nausea, fatigue, and seizures.

The types can be pre-renal, intrinsic, and post-renal. If left untreated, the complications can include pulmonary edema, hyperkalemia, heart rhythm disturbances, or respiratory failure. It should be treated on time to prevent debilitating complications.

With chronic kidney disease (CKD), the symptoms are gradual and they don’t alarm the patient as such. Most cases are caused by diabetes or glomerulonephritis. It is diagnosed mostly as an incidental finding.

The symptoms range from persistent fatigue and weakness, dry skin, poor appetite, frequent urination, muscle cramps, ammonia-smelling breath, and trouble sleeping. The complications of CKD include weak bones, heart disease, anemia, reduced fertility, seizures, depression, anxiety, and increased chances of infection.

Treatment:

With acute kidney disease there is a need for hospitalization. The doctors treat the underlying cause and the hospital stay depends upon the time duration of resolving the underlying conditions.

This type is reversible if the underlying cause is treated, however, patients are more prone to infections and require regular check-ups. The treatment can include IV fluids, diuretics, IV calcium, and hemodialysis.

Patients with CKD often require dialysis when there is less than 15% of kidney function left. There is no fixed cure for it. Hence, the treatment is solely for the purpose of slowing down progression and preserving whatever kidney function is left. Treatment is based on cause identification and elimination. Treatment involves ACE inhibitors, diuretics, cholesterol medication, and low protein diet, etc.

Prevention:

Getting regular check-ups can prevent kidney disease from further deteriorating. Apart from this, identify risk factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and family history.

Identifying these factors will help you keep a healthy lifestyle and prevent the condition you are at risk. Get checked immediately when you develop a urinary tract infection. As it can lead to kidney damage if left untreated.

Moreover, make healthy food choices, do daily physical activity, have a healthy weight, gain enough sleep, limit alcohol and quit smoking. These lifestyle changes and regular check-ups can help in preventing kidney disease from occurring.