KIDNEY DISEASE - SYMPTOMS

In chronic kidney failure, the damage often occurs very gradually over the years Thus, there may not be any obvious symptoms and most CKD patients do not have any symptoms early in the disease. Most of them feel well until their kidney disease are in the advanced stage of kidney failure. Even if they experience symptoms, majority of the symptoms for CKD are rather non-specific and these include :

• feel more tired, fatigue and have less energy

• have trouble concentrating

• decrease in appetite and lost of weight

• not sleeping well

• persistent generalized dry and itchy skin

• frequent muscle cramps at night

• swelling of the feet and ankles

• puffiness of eyes, especially in the morning

• passing out bloody, cloudy or tea-coloured urine

• excessive foaming of the urine that indicates the presence of protein

• need to urinate more often, especially at night

• decrease in urine output or difficulty in passing urine over a period of time

• high blood pressure (hypertension)

Such symptoms are due to the lost of the vital kidney functions and hence resulting in the build up of toxins and excessive water in the body as urination decreases. Some patients may develop symptoms and sighs related to the complications associated with kidney failure such as hypertension (headache, visual disturbances, nausea) and anemia (giddiness, tiredness, shortness of breath).

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Expert Author:

Dr Roger Tan, Consultant Nephrologist