What are the symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease?

Chronic kidney disease is a condition in which kidney functions deteriorate over months and years. Most important causes of CKD includes Diabetes, Hypertension, Recumbent Urinary Tract Infection, Renal Stone Disease, Regular Intake Of Pain Killers and other Over The Counter Medications, Obesity And Some Genetic Disease. The population who are at risk for CKD are those who are less 50 years of age, having diabetes and hypertension, had a family history of kidney disease etc.

Kidney Disease – Can be silent

Kidney disease in its stage may not have any symptoms. Since kidney has much reserve, to produce symptoms, Kidney needs to affect beyond a certain capacity. So, in its early stage, the patient may be asymptomatic. But as kidney function deteriorates further, early symptoms include swelling in a lower limb which may further increase to involve face, abdomen and may become generalized.

Signs and Symptoms associated with Kidney Disease

• The decrease in appetite, Nausea tendency and few episodes of vomiting are other common symptoms of chronic kidney disease.
• Increased frequency of urination in the night (Noctrine), burning sensation during victimisation, feeling of incomplete evacuation of the urinary bladder, urgency in passing urine, hesitancy in passing urine are commonly seen in kidney patients especially those who have involvement of lower urinary tract.
• Breathlessness, especially during animal exertion, palpitation, weight loss, rashes all over the body, easy fatiguability, dullness, rough skin, are commonly seen in patients with advanced renal failure.

But again I want to emphasize that early stage of kidney disease may be asymptomatic. So, until patients, especially those who are in the high-risk category, do not go for laboratory investigation, we may not pick kidney disease in early stage.