What Can Cause Kidney Failure in a Child?

• What Is It?
  • Kidney failure definition and facts
  • What are the kidneys? Where are they located?
• Kidney Functions
  • What practise the kidneys do?
• Symptoms & Signs
  • What are the signs and symptoms of kidney failure?
  • Does kidney failure cause hurting?
• Causes
  • What causes kidney failure?
  • What causes astute kidney failure?
  • What causes chronic kidney failure?
• Diagnosis
  • What procedures and tests diagnose kidney failure?
• Handling
  • What is the treatment for kidney failure?
  • What medications treat kidney failure?
• Diet
  • Is in that location a diet for kidney failure? What foods should be avoided? Which are OK to swallow?
• Dialysis
  • What are dialysis and hemodialysis?
  • What is peritoneal dialysis?
• Kidney Transplant Option
  • Is a kidney transplant an option?
• Life Expectancy
  • What is the prognosis and life expectancy for kidney failure? Can it exist prevented?
• Center
  • Kidney Failure Center
• Comments
  • Patient Comments: Kidney Failure - Symptoms
  • Patient Comments: Kidney Failure - Treatment
  • Patient Comments: Kidney Failure - Nutrition
  • Patient Comments: Kidney Failure - Diagnosis
  • Patient Comments: Kidney Failure - Dialysis

A woman feeling weak and short of breath. Source: iStock

Kidney failure definition and facts

• Kidneys are the organs that filter waste material products from the blood. They are also involved in regulating claret pressure, electrolyte balance, and red blood cell product in the body.
• Symptoms of kidney failure are due to the build-up of waste products and backlog fluid in the body that may cause weakness, shortness of breath, lethargy, swelling, and confusion. Inability to remove potassium from the bloodstream may lead to aberrant heart rhythms and sudden death. Initially, kidney failure may crusade no symptoms.
• At that place are numerous causes of kidney failure, and treatment of the underlying affliction may be the showtime footstep in correcting the kidney aberration.
• Some causes of kidney failure are treatable and the kidney office may render to normal. Unfortunately, kidney failure may be progressive in other situations and may exist irreversible.
• The diagnosis of kidney failure commonly is made by blood tests measuring BUN, creatinine, and glomerular filtration charge per unit (GFR).
• Treatment of the underlying crusade of kidney failure may return kidney function to normal. Lifelong efforts to command blood pressure and diabetes may be the all-time way to prevent chronic kidney disease and its progression to kidney failure. As we age, kidney function gradually decreases over time.
• If the kidneys neglect completely, the just treatment options bachelor may be dialysis or transplant.

How Long Can You Live with Phase five Kidney Disease?

It is difficult to say how long can you alive with stage 5 kidney disease because it is dependent on factors, such as:

• Whether you are on dialysis
• The frequency and hours y'all are taking dialysis
• Diabetes and center disease or other comorbid atmospheric condition
• Nutrition
• Table salt intake
• Preserved kidney function
• Presence of inflammation in the trunk
• Blood hemoglobin level
• Slumber disturbances
• Fractures
• Weight loss
• Fatigue or burnout
• Muscle weakness
• Poor compliance to dialysis sessions and dietary restrictions
• Sedentary lifestyle

A 3D illustration highlighting the kidneys and their location. Source: Veer

What are the kidneys? Where are they located?

The kidneys play key roles in body function, not just by filtering the blood and getting rid of waste matter products, but as well by balancing the electrolyte levels in the body, decision-making blood force per unit area, and stimulating the production of red claret cells.

The kidneys are located in the abdomen toward the back, normally 1 on each side of the spine. They get their blood supply through the renal arteries straight from the aorta and transport claret dorsum to the centre via the renal veins to the vena cava. (The term "renal" is derived from the Latin proper noun for kidney.)

What exercise the kidneys do?

When blood flows to the kidney, sensors within specialized kidney cells regulate how much water to excrete as urine, along with what concentration of electrolytes. For instance, if a person is dehydrated from exercise or from an illness, the kidneys will concur onto every bit much h2o as possible and the urine becomes very concentrated. When adequate water is nowadays in the body, the urine is much more than dilute, and the urine becomes clear. This system is controlled by renin, a hormone produced in the kidney that is role of the fluid and blood force per unit area regulation systems of the body.

Kidneys are also the source of erythropoietin in the body, a hormone that stimulates the os marrow to make red claret cells. Special cells in the kidney monitor the oxygen concentration in blood. If oxygen levels fall, erythropoietin levels rising and the body starts to manufacture more red claret cells.

Urine that is made by each kidney flows through the ureter, a tube that connects the kidney to the float. Urine is stored inside the bladder, and when urination occurs, the bladder empties urine through a tube called the urethra.

13 symptoms of kidney failure may develop into life-threatening circumstances. Source: iStock

What are the signs and symptoms of kidney failure?

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Initially, kidney failure may be non produced whatsoever symptoms (asymptomatic). As kidney function decreases, the symptoms are related to the inability to regulate water and electrolyte balances, clear waste material products from the body, and promote red claret cell production.

If unrecognized or untreated, the following symptoms of kidney failure may develop into life-threatening circumstances.

1. Lethargy
2. Weakness
3. Shortness of breath
4. Generalized swelling (edema)
5. Generalized weakness due to anemia
6. Loss of ambition
7. Languor
8. Fatigue
9. Congestive eye failure
10. Metabolic acidosis
11. High claret potassium (hyperkalemia)
12. Fatal center rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias) including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation
13. Rise urea levels in the claret (uremia) may pb to brain encephalopathy, pericarditis (inflammation of the heart lining), or depression calcium blood levels (hypocalcemia)

The list of causes of kidney failure is oftentimes categorized based on where the injury has occurred. Source: Bigstock

What causes kidney failure?

Kidney failure may occur from an acute situation that injures the kidneys or from chronic diseases that gradually crusade the kidneys to stop functioning.

In acute renal failure, kidney function is lost speedily and can occur from a diversity of insults to the torso. Since almost people take two kidneys, both kidneys must be damaged for complete kidney failure to occur. Fortunately, if only one kidney fails or is diseased it can be removed, and the remaining kidney may go along to have normal kidney (renal) function. If both patients' kidneys are injured or diseased, a donor kidney(s) may be transplanted.

The listing of causes of kidney failure is often categorized based on where the injury has occurred.

Prerenal causes (pre=earlier + renal=kidney) causes are due to decreased claret supply to the kidney. Examples of prerenal causes of kidney failure are:

• Hypovolemia (depression blood volume) due to blood loss
• Dehydration from loss of body fluid (for example, airsickness, diarrhea, sweating, fever)
• Poor intake of fluids
• Medication, for example, diuretics ("h2o pills") may cause excessive h2o loss
• Abnormal blood menstruation to and from the kidney due to obstruction of the renal artery or vein.

IMAGES

Kidney Failure (Symptoms, Signs, Stages, Causes, Treatment, and Life Expectancy) Run across a medical analogy of the kidney plus entire medical gallery of man anatomy and physiology Meet Images

Medical imaging of a male body highlighting the kidneys under assault from the infection. Source: iStock

What causes acute kidney failure?

Renal causes of kidney failure (damage directly to the kidney itself) include:

Sepsis: The trunk's immune system is overwhelmed from infection and causes inflammation and shutdown of the kidneys. This unremarkably does not occur with unproblematic urinary tract infections.

Medications: Some medications are toxic to the kidney including:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, and others), and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
• Antibiotics similar aminoglycosides gentamicin (Garamycin), tobramycin
• lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid)
• Iodine-containing medications such equally those injected for radiology dye studies

Rhabdomyolysis: In rhabdomyolysis, at that place is significant musculus breakdown in the body, and the damaged musculus fibers clog the filtering organisation of the kidneys. Massive musculus injury may occur because of trauma, crush injuries, and burns. Some medications used to treat high cholesterol may cause rhabdomyolysis.

Multiple myeloma

Acute glomerulonephritis or inflammation of the glomeruli, the filtering organisation of the kidneys. Many diseases can cause this inflammation including:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Wegener'south granulomatosis
• Goodpasture syndrome.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome: This condition results from the abnormal destruction of red claret cells. It well-nigh oft occurs in children subsequently certain infections, but also may be acquired by medications, pregnancy, or tin occur for unknown reasons.

Postrenal kidney failure causes

Mail renal causes of kidney failure (post=after + renal= kidney) are due to factors that affect the outflow of the urine:

• Obstruction of the bladder or the ureters can cause back pressure because the kidneys continue to produce urine, merely the obstruction acts like a dam, and urine backs upwardly into the kidneys. When the pressure level increases loftier enough, the kidneys are damaged and close down.
• Prostatic hypertrophy or prostate cancer may cake the urethra and prevents the bladder from elimination.
• Tumors in the abdomen that surround and obstruct the ureters.
• Kidney stones. Usually, kidney stones affect but ane kidney and practice not cause kidney failure. However, if there is only one kidney present, a kidney stone may cause the remaining kidney to fail.

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A cross-section illustration of a human kidney with callouts. Source: MedicineNet

What causes chronic kidney failure?

Chronic renal failure develops over months and years. The almost common causes of chronic renal failure are related to

• poorly controlled diabetes,
• poorly controlled high blood force per unit area, and
• chronic glomerulonephritis.

Less common causes of chronic renal failure include:

• Polycystic kidney illness
• Reflux nephropathy (damage caused by urine backflow from the bladder into the ureters and kidney)
• Nephrotic syndrome
• Alport's disease
• Interstitial nephritis
• Kidney stones
• Prostate illness

SLIDESHOW

What Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)? Symptoms, Treatments See Slideshow

Pain is oft a consequence of the underlying chronic disease that led to kidney failure, for instance, people with poorly controlled diabetes may develop diabetic neuropathy pain. Source: iStock

Does kidney failure crusade hurting?

Kidney failure in itself does not cause pain. Yet, the consequences of kidney failure may crusade hurting and discomfort in unlike parts of the body.

Amyloid proteins

Normal operation kidneys filter amyloid (a protein) from the claret stream. In kidney failure amyloid proteins in the blood rise, and can split up and clump together forming amyloid deposits into a variety of tissue and organs, including joints and tendons. This can effect in symptoms of:

• joint stiffness,
• pain, and
• swelling.

Procedure related pain

• Patients who are on dialysis may have discomfort when on the dialysis machine.

Underlying chronic disease pain

• Pain is often a result of the underlying chronic disease that led to kidney failure, for case:
• People with poorly controlled diabetes may develop diabetic neuropathy hurting.
• People who take peripheral vascular illness also may have pain in their extremities, and may develop claudication (leg pain that occurs with walking).

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Diagnosis of kidney failure can be confirmed by blood tests such as BUN, creatinine, and GFR. Source: iStock

What procedures and tests diagnose kidney failure?

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Ofttimes, a patient is seen for another medical status and the diagnosis of kidney failure is a consequence of the patient's disease or injury. In patients with chronic kidney illness due to diabetes, loftier blood pressure, or another related medical condition his or her medical care squad most likely monitors kidney function as part of his or her routine long-term medical care plan.

Diagnosis of kidney failure can be confirmed by claret tests such as BUN, creatinine, and GFR; which measure the buildup of waste products in the blood.

Urine tests may be ordered to measure out the corporeality of protein, notice the presence of aberrant cells, or measure the concentration of electrolytes.

Other tests are used to diagnose the type of kidney failure such every bit:

• Abdominal ultrasound
• Kidney biopsy

QUESTION

The simply purpose of the kidneys is to filter claret. See Answer

Once kidney failure is present, the goal is to prevent further deterioration of renal function. Source: iStock

What is the treatment for kidney failure?

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Prevention is e'er the goal of kidney failure. Chronic diseases such every bit hypertension (high claret pressure) and diabetes are devastating because of the harm that they can do to kidneys and other organs. Lifelong diligence is important in keeping blood sugar and blood pressure inside normal limits. Specific treatments depend upon the underlying diseases.

Once kidney failure is nowadays, the goal is to prevent further deterioration of renal function. If ignored, the kidneys volition progress to complete failure, just if underlying illnesses are addressed and treated aggressively, kidney office can exist preserved, though not ever improved.

From

A dietician discussing food options with a senior kidney patient. Source: Veer

Is in that location a diet for kidney failure? What foods should be avoided? Which are OK to eat?

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Diet is an of import consideration for those with impaired kidney function. Consultation with dietitians may exist helpful to empathise what foods may or may non be appropriate.

In this state of impaired kidney function, the kidneys cannot easily remove excess water, table salt, or potassium from the blood, so foods high in potassium common salt substitutes may need to be consumed in limited quantities. Examples of potassium-rich foods include:

• Bananas
• Apricots
• Cantaloupe
• Sweetness potatoes
• Yogurt
• Spinach
• Avocados

Phosphorus is a forgotten chemical that is associated with calcium metabolism and may exist elevated in the body in kidney failure. Too much phosphorus can leech calcium from the bones and cause osteoporosis and fractures. Examples of foods and beverages high in phosphorus include:

• Milk
• Cheese
• Basics
• Dark cola drinks
• Canned iced teas
• Yogurt
• Organ meats
• Sardines
• Oysters
• Baked beans
• Black beans
• Lentils
• Kidney beans
• Soybeans
• Bran cereals
• Caramels
• Whole grain products

An elderly man taking his kidney medications. Source: Bigstock

What medications care for kidney failure?

Unlike classes of medications may be used to help control some of the bug associated with kidney failure including:

• Phosphorus-lowering medications, for example, calcium carbonate (Caltrate), calcitriol (Rocaltrol), and sevelamer (Renagel)
• Red blood cell product stimulation, for example, erythropoietin, darbepoetin (Aranesp)
• Red claret jail cell production (atomic number 26 supplements)
• Claret pressure level medications
• Vitamins

Once the kidneys fail completely, the handling options are limited to dialysis or kidney replacement by transplantation.

Once the kidneys fail completely, the treatment options are limited to dialysis or kidney replacement by transplantation. Source: iStock

What are dialysis and hemodialysis?

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Dialysis cleanses the body of waste products by trunk by use of filter systems. There are ii types of dialysis, ane) hemodialysis and 2) peritoneal dialysis.

Hemodialysis uses a motorcar filter called a dialyzer or bogus kidney to remove excess water and salt, to remainder the other electrolytes in the body, and to remove waste material products of metabolism. Blood is removed from the torso and flows through tubing into the machine, where it passes next to a filter membrane. A specialized chemical solution (dialysate) flows on the other side of the membrane. The dialysate is formulated to draw impurities from the blood through the filter membrane. Blood and dialysate are never touched in the artificial kidney machine.

For this type of dialysis, admission to the blood vessels needs to be surgically created so that big amounts of blood can flow into the car and back to the torso. Surgeons can build a fistula, a connection between a large artery and vein in the body, ordinarily in the arm, that allows a large amount of blood to flow into the vein. This makes the vein swell or amplify, and its walls get thicker and then that information technology can tolerate repeated needle sticks to attach tubing from the body to the car. Since it takes many weeks or months for a fistula to mature plenty to be used, significant planning is required if hemodialysis is to be considered as an choice.

If the kidney failure happens acutely and there is no time to build a fistula, special catheters may be inserted into the larger blood vessels of the arm, leg, or chest. These catheters may exist left in place for weeks. In some diseases, the need for dialysis will be temporary, but if the expectation is that dialysis will continue for a prolonged period of time, these catheters act as a bridge until a fistula can be planned, placed, and matured.

Dialysis treatments normally occur three times a week and last a few hours at a fourth dimension. Well-nigh commonly, patients travel to an outpatient center to have dialysis, but home dialysis therapy is becoming an selection for some.

Outpatient dialysis is available on some prowl ships. They are equipped with dialysis machines with trained wellness care professionals ready to care for those with kidney failure while traveling.

Peritoneal dialysis tubing is attached to the abdominal connectedness of a male patient. Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Wellness (NIH)

What is peritoneal dialysis?

Peritoneal dialysis uses the lining of the abdominal cavity every bit the dialysis filter to rid the torso of waste and to remainder electrolyte levels. A catheter is placed in the abdominal cavity through the abdominal wall by a surgeon, and it is expected to remain in place for the long term. The dialysis solution is then dripped in through the catheter and left in the abdominal cavity for a few hours after which, information technology is tuckered out. During that time, waste material products leech from the blood flowing through the lining of the belly (peritoneum) and attach themselves to the fluid that has been instilled past the catheters. Often, patients instill the dialysate fluid before bedtime and drain it in the forenoon.

In that location are benefits and complications for each type of dialysis. Non every patient can choose which blazon he or she would prefer. The treatment determination depends on the patient'south illness and their past medical history forth with other issues. Commonly, the nephrologist (kidney specialist) will accept a long discussion with the patient and family to decide what will be the best selection available.

Dialysis is lifesaving. Without information technology, patients whose kidneys no longer office would die relatively chop-chop due to electrolyte abnormalities and the buildup of toxins in the bloodstream. Patients may live many years with dialysis but other underlying and associated illnesses oftentimes are the cause of death.

Illustration of a kidney transplant. Source: iStock

Is a kidney transplant an option?

If kidney failure occurs and is not-reversible, kidney transplantation is an culling option to dialysis. If the patient is an appropriate candidate, the healthcare professional and nephrologist volition contact an organ transplant center to arrange an evaluation to see whether the patient is suitable for this handling. If so, the search for a donor begins. Sometimes, family members have compatible tissue types and, if they are willing, may donate a kidney. Otherwise, the patient will be placed on the organ transplant listing that is maintained by the United Network of Organ Sharing.

Not all hospitals are capable of performing kidney transplants. The patient may accept to travel to undergo their operation. The most successful programs are those that do many transplants every twelvemonth.

While kidney transplants take become routine, they withal carry some risks. The patient volition demand to have anti-rejection medications that reduce the ability of the immune arrangement to fight infection. The trunk can try to turn down the kidney or the transplanted kidney may fail to work. Every bit with any operation, there is a risk of bleeding and infection.

Kidney transplants may provide a better quality of life than dialysis. Subsequently one year, 95% of transplanted kidneys are withal functioning and after five years, the number is 80%. Information technology seems that the longer a patient is on dialysis, the shorter the life of the transplanted kidney.

If the transplanted kidney fails, the alternative is some other kidney transplant or a return to dialysis.

Prevention is the all-time chance to maintain kidney role, and controlling high blood pressure and diabetes over a lifetime can decrease the potential for progressive kidney impairment. Source: N/A

What is the prognosis and life expectancy for kidney failure? Tin can it be prevented?

The outlook for kidney failure depends upon the underlying condition that acquired information technology. Kidney function may return to normal, especially if it is due to an acute obstruction and that obstruction is relieved. Other causes of decreased kidney function leading to kidney failure are due to underlying disease and occur slowly over time.

Prevention is the best hazard to maintain kidney function, and controlling high blood pressure level and diabetes over a lifetime can decrease the potential for progressive kidney damage. Chronic kidney failure may be managed to help monitor electrolyte and waste matter production levels in the bloodstream. Major abnormalities can be life-threatening, and treatment options may be limited to dialysis or transplant.

Medically Reviewed on 12/22/2021

References

REFERENCES: Jameson, JL, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 20th ed. (Vol.i & Vol.two). McGraw-Hill Teaching 2018.

Workeneh, BT, Dr.. "Acute Kidney Injury." Medscape. Updated: Jul nineteen, 2018.
<https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/243492-overview>

NIH. "Amyloidosis and Kidney Disease." Updated: Sep 2014.
<https://www.niddk.nih.gov/wellness-information/kidney-illness/amyloidosis>

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