The kidneys are responsible for filtering the waste materials out of the blood and produce urine. There are millions of tiny structures within the kidneys known as nephrons which filter the blood and removes the waste substances from the body. Most of the kidney conditions affect the nephrons which result in the kidneys unable to effectively remove the wastes from the blood. Individuals with various conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes are at increased risk of developing kidney diseases. Some of the kidney diseases include kidney stones, kidney infections, kidney cysts, acute kidney injury, cancer, diabetic nephropathies and glomerulonephritis. The treatment of kidney diseases is based on the cause and can include dialysis or kidney transplant in the severe cases.
Diabetic nephropathies
This is one of the complications of diabetes that results in the progressive damage to the kidney’s filter system (glomeruli). There are 5 stages of this condition and it can take as long as 20 years for the individual to reach the final end-stage. The symptoms only become evident when the condition has progressed to the advanced stage which can include swelling of the hands, feet, ankles and lower legs from fluid retention. Additional symptoms can include fatigue from lack of oxygen, the presence of protein in the urine, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and dark colored urine. Diabetic people should have an annual screening of the kidneys to identify and prevent complications. The initial stage of this condition can be treated by monitoring the blood glucose, high blood pressure, including a healthy diet and with regular exercise. The advanced stage requires kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Kidney cysts
These are the pouches of fluid that develops on or in the kidneys. This condition can be associated with other disorders that affect the normal function of the kidneys. Most of the kidney cysts are noncancerous and rarely cause any complications. The kidney cysts don’t cause any symptoms which may only become evident when they grow large and can include upper abdominal pain, fever and pain in the back or the side. The exact cause of the kidney cyst is not known. The treatment may not be required if the cysts don’t affect the normal function of the kidneys. However, when the cysts enlarge and continue to cause symptoms, the treatment includes surgery to remove the cyst or a procedure that drains the fluid from the cyst and filled with alcohol to stop it from reforming.
Glomerulonephritis
This is a group of diseases that affects the glomeruli that is responsible for removing the waste from the blood. It can develop as the result of infections such as strep throat or lupus. The scarring of the glomeruli can also occur as the result of various conditions such as diabetic kidney diseases and high blood pressure. The symptoms associated with the chronic form of this condition include frequent nighttime urination, foamy urine, high blood pressure, swelling of the limbs and the presence of blood in the urine. The acute form of this condition can resolve on its own with the treatment of the underlying cause such as the infection. In severe cases, the special blood filtering process such as plasmapheresis may be needed to remove the waste from the blood.
References
https://medlineplus.gov/kidneydiseases.html
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Glomerulonephritis/Pages/Introduction.aspx#treatment
