UNDERSTANDING KIDNEY FAILURE
Acute kidney failure occurs when your kidneys suddenly become unable to filter waste products from your blood.
When your kidneys lose their filtering ability, dangerous levels of wastes may accumulate, and your blood's chemical makeup may get out of balance.
Acute kidney failure — also called acute renal failure or acute kidney injury — develops rapidly, usually in less than a few days.
Acute kidney failure is most common in people who are already hospitalized, particularly in critically ill people who need intensive care.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of acute kidney failure may include,
Decreased urine output, although occasionally urine output remains normal
Fluid retention, causing swelling in your legs, ankles or feet
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Confusion
Nausea
Weakness
Irregular heartbeat
Chest pain or pressure
Seizures or coma in severe cases
Causes
Acute kidney failure can occur when:
You have a condition that slows blood flow to your kidneys
You experience direct damage to your kidneys
Your kidneys' urine drainage tubes (ureters) become blocked and wastes can't leave your body through your urine
Impaired blood flow to the kidneys
Diseases and conditions that may slow blood flow to the kidneys and lead to kidney injury include
Blood or fluid loss
Blood pressure
Medications
Heart attack
Heart disease
Infection
Liver failure
Use of aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium (Aleve, others) or related drugs
Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
Severe burns
Severe dehydration
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