Kidney illness

Kidney disease is a disorder that occurs in the kidney organs, that is, two red bean-shaped organs that are on both sides of the body on the lower back, precisely under the rib cage.

Kidney disorders affect the body's performance by washing the blood, which filters body waste and excess fluid that will become urine. More specifically, the kidneys have several important functions, including:

• Filter body waste (including chemicals, drugs, and food) into the blood.
• Maintain a balance of salt, minerals, fluids and blood acids in the body.
• It produces erythropoietin, a hormone involved in the formation of red blood cells.
• Produces renin, an enzyme that helps regulate blood pressure.
• Produces active vitamin D compounds to maintain bone health.

When kidney function is disrupted, waste and fluid that accumulates in the body causes symptoms such as ankle swelling, nausea, vomiting, weakness and shortness of breath.

Kidney failure can be caused by other conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. That is, someone at risk of kidney problems if you suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, or have a family history of kidney disease.
Types of kidney disease
Kidney failure includes several types, including:

• Kidney infection. Kidney infection occurs when bladder bacteria spread to one or two kidneys. This condition results from complications of urinary tract infections.
• Ninja Stone. Salt and minerals must be filtered through the kidney but hardened and buried in the kidney to form kidney stones. This usually happens because the urine is too thick and the salt and minerals crystallize.
• Polycystic kidney disease. Is a disease that is inherited in the form of appearance of cysts (fluid-filled sacs) that cluster in the kidneys. Polycystic kidney disease is not malignant, but can cause a decrease in kidney function. Besides occurring in the kidney, cysts in the polycystic kidney can also appear in the liver or other parts of the body.
• Acute kidney failure. Acute kidney failure is a condition in which the kidneys cannot function normally and suddenly. If left untreated, this condition can cause salt and other chemicals to accumulate in the body and affect the function of other organs.
• Chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney failure or chronic kidney failure is a decline in kidney function that lasts for three months. This disease is characterized by several symptoms, such as shortness of breath, nausea and fatigue. But this condition is not felt by the patient if he is still in stages 1 to 3. As a result, many people do not realize that they are living with this disease until they reach an advanced stage.

Symptoms of kidney disease

Symptoms of kidney disease depend on the type of disease and the fact that the disease causes a decrease in kidney function. Some symptoms of decreased kidney function and symptoms of kidney disease include:

• Swelling at the ankles and around the eyes.
• Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and weight loss.
• The volume and frequency of urination decreases.
• Foamy urine.
• Feeling tired and breathing is difficult.
• Dry and irritated skin.
• Muscle cramps occur, especially in the legs.
• Insomnia.
• Hypertension.
• Heart rhythm disorders.
• Awareness decreases.
• In acute kidney failure can be seen signs of dehydration.
• Lower back pain and blood-mixed urine can occur in people with kidney stones, polycystic kidney disease, and kidney infections.
• In patients with kidney and kidney stone infections, fever and cold can occur.

Children with kidney disease are sleepy, have no energy, lose their appetite, and are stunted.


Diagnosis of kidney disease
To detect kidney disorders, doctors can conduct various investigations, namely:

• Urine test. Made to determine the level of albumin in the urine. Albumin is a type of protein that must be contained in the blood. If there is albumin in the urine, it means the kidneys are not functioning properly and, indirectly, the level of albumin in the blood will decrease. Analysis and culture of urine bacteria can also be done to determine the presence of urinary tract infections and germs responsible for the infection.
• Blood test. Created to check creatinine levels, substances derived from muscle tissue. If damaged, the kidneys cannot get creatinine out of the blood. Through a blood test, the doctor will also determine the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of the patient. GFR examination results will show the function and condition of the patient's kidney. In addition to kidney function, blood tests can show a decrease in hemoglobin due to decreased production of red blood cells.
• Scanning. Renal ultrasound and computed tomography of the kidney and urinary tract (urography) detect the possibility of kidney stones and polycystic kidney disease.

Treatment of kidney disease

Before determining the type of treatment for kidney disease, the doctor will first determine the cause. Some types of treatments that can be used to treat kidney disease are:

• Medicine. In the treatment of kidney failure, the doctor will prescribe either an ACE inhibitor (for example, ramipril, captopril) or ARB (for example, valsartan, irbesartan). In addition to controlling blood pressure, this group of drugs can also reduce protein levels in the urine. The hormone erythropoietin (EPO) can also be given to patients with kidney failure with anemia. For kidney infections, the doctor will give antibiotics for one to two weeks.

• Procedure for treatment of kidney stones. Small kidney stones and mild symptoms do not require special measures to overcome them. Patients should be advised to drink 2 to 3 L per day to flush the urinary tract, with analgesics such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, and drugs to relax urinary tract muscles (alpha-blockers), so they can come out quickly and without pain. If the stone is large enough and is considered unable to escape alone, several procedures are performed to remove the stone from the kidney, namely:

• Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ECL). The stone is crushed to a small size so that it can be removed with urine using sound waves that produce vibrations from the ESWL engine.

• Lithotripsy urotoscopy (URS). Thanks to the URS method, a tube equipped with a camera is inserted into the urinary tract through the hole through which urine exits. Then, the stone will be crushed using a special tool to reduce its size and allow elimination through the urinary tract.

• Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). PCNL is done by taking a stone with a special instrument that is inserted through the back to reach the kidneys. This procedure requires general anesthesia.

• The Kidney Diet filters body waste, some minerals and fluids. If there is a decrease in kidney function, it is difficult for the kidneys to get rid of this waste. Therefore, eating habits that must be followed by people whose kidney function is impaired is a diet low in protein and some minerals such as sodium, potassium and phosphate. In addition, it is important to limit fluid intake, so that fluid does not accumulate in the body.

• Kidney replacement therapy. If the kidneys are not functioning properly, there are three ways to replace their duties, namely:

• Dialysis or hemodialysis. Use machines that are connected to blood vessels to filter and eliminate substances that are not needed by the body in the blood. Access is needed in the blood vessels to be connected to the machine. If dialysis is needed immediately, a catheter will be placed in a vein in the neck, which is a tube resembling an intravenous infusion that is usually placed in the hand but placed in a large blood vessel in the neck. If dialysis is planned for a long period of time, access will be given to the arm or leg by connecting the arteries and veins. This access is called cimino.
• Continuous outpatient peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Unlike dialysis, CAPD uses membranes in the inner abdominal wall to wash blood. Similar to dialysis, CAPD also requires permanent access, for example a tube that will be installed through the abdominal wall. The liquid used to wash the blood will be placed in a tube and left to stand still for a while before finally being evacuated.
• Kidney transplant or kidney transplant. By removing the kidney from a suitable donor and implanting it in the patient's body. Before conducting a transplant, several tests will be carried out to determine whether the patient is a good candidate for a kidney transplant. And after transplantation, the patient will take a number of drugs so that the body can receive donor organs. If the transplant is successful, the patient does not need to undergo another kidney replacement treatment.

Prevention of kidney disease

Kidney disease can be caused by diabetes or hypertension. Therefore, one way to prevent kidney disease is to control both diseases. Indeed, if blood glucose and blood pressure are not controlled, the kidneys will be damaged over time. If you have symptoms of kidney failure or have a family history of kidney failure, patients are advised to undergo a routine checkup.

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