What is Acute Kidney Injury?
Symptoms
Although symptoms may not be clearly perceivable in the early stages of the disease, as the condition worsens, there could be symptoms like –
- Production of lesser quantity of urine
- Dehydration
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- High blood pressure
- Slight back pain
- Confusion
- Oedema – Building up of fluids in the body
Causes
Usually, acute kidney injury is the result of decreased flow of blood into your kidneys. The cause for this decrease in volume of blood could be –
- Heart failure – The heart itself pumps out lesser blood
- Liver failure
- Low blood volume – There is not much blood in the body, because of bleeding, diarrhea or dehydration
- Blood vessel problems – Blockages and inflammation of blood vessels inside the kidneys
- Kidney stones
- An enlarged prostate gland in the kidneys
- Tumour in the pelvis area
- Glomerulonephritis – Kidney problems due to infections, allergy to medications and radiations
Risks
You could be at a risk of acute kidney injury if you are –
- Above 65 years of age
- Have another kidney related illness
- Have long-term diseases like heart failure
- Diabetic
- Prone to blockages in the urinary tract
- Administered medication like ibuprofen or blood pressure drugs or ACE inhibitors or diuretics
Prevention
To prevent the chances of acute kidney injury, make healthy lifestyle a priority. Be extra cautious when you take over-the-counter medications such as painkillers and always avoid their excessive usage. If you have problems like high blood pressure or diabetes, ensure corrective measures like dietary modifications and regular moderate exercises.
How is it diagnosed?
At Medanta, your nephrologist diagnoses acute kidney injury using the following tests –
- Creatnine Level Tests
- Urine Tests
- Ultrasound Scans