Causes of Chronic Kidney Failure

Chronic kidney failure is a condition you generally don’t even know you have until your kidney has suffered substantial and loss of function. As with a number of other dangerous and potentially life-threatening diseases, there are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease.

Many illnesses can cause chronic kidney failure, including diabetes and high blood pressure. Most people with CRF need to take medications. Some need dialysis.

Kidney failure can make you very sick and require hospitalization. Approximately ten percent of the time, it results from a severe allergic reaction to medicines. This is called interstitial nephritis. People with interstitial nephritis generally recover. Their kidneys begin working normally again after a few weeks. Other patients, however, may need a year to get better. The patient’s previous health, the severity of the illness, and the results of a kidney biopsy will help a doctor determine how long recovery it will take.

Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Failure

Chronic kidney failure symptoms may include:

*anemia
*bleeding
*blood in stools or vomit
*easy bruising
*excessive urine output
*insufficient urine flow
*lowered mental alertness
*muscle cramps
*muscle twitches
*nocturia (nighttime urination)
*a numb sensation in the extremities
*seizures
*sleep disorders
*uremic frost (deposits of white crystals in and on the skin)
*yellow-brown skin color.

Treatment

Treatment for may include:

*Stopping the medicines that cause the illness or that might damage your kidneys.
*Treating infections and other problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
*Other treatments such as steroids.
*Dialysis.
*Removal.
*Transplantation.

To avoid interstitial nephritis, you should never take any prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, herbal or nutrition supplements without consulting your doctor.

Also be sure to take medicines for diabetes and high blood pressure regularly, and follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.