Kidney disease often goes unnoticed because the symptoms it can cause are very non-specific. Nevertheless, here are the signs that can be linked to a kidney problem.
Paleness, fatigue and anemia, suggestive of renal failure
Signs that may raise suspicion of kidney disease include severe fatigue associated with anemia and the fact that patients have appetite and sleep disturbances. Subjects may also have scratching lesions on the skin and may have trouble breathing at night. Cramps, edema and weight loss can be associated. “These are signs of uremia but they are very non-specific symptoms. In 30% of cases, the call symptoms are so banal that we do not notice it and that we discover the disease when the kidneys are completely destroyed. Very often, kidney disease is discovered incidentally, during a blood test carried out for another reason.says Professor Christophe Legendre, nephrologist in adult kidney transplantation at Necker Hospital. In the presence of the two main risk factors for developing kidney disease which are high blood pressure and diabetes, regular monitoring can allow early treatment and thus delay its development. The diagnosis is based on a blood test and urine analysis looking for an increase in serum creatinine, proteinuria and albuminuria.
Lower back pain on one side only, a sign of pyelonephritis
Pyelonephritis is infection of a kidney and its ureter. It basically translates to fever over 38.5°C, chills, feeling weakburning on urination and low back pain on one side. These pains can radiate to the ribs and to the pubis. Sometimes nausea and vomiting are associated. Biological analyzes make it possible to make the diagnosis and determine the treatment. Being of bacterial origin, pyelonephritis is treated with antibiotics for 7 to 10 days.
Blood in the urine, possibly renal colic
While kidney stones can be asymptomatic, they can also cause renal colic. This is manifested by severe pain in the lumbar vertebrae, related to the strong pressure present in the urinary tract. The pain is very intense and comes on suddenly. It is often associated with the presence of blood in the urine, frequent urges to urinate without being able to do so, as well as digestive disorders (nausea and vomiting). The diagnosis is based on a blood test to assess the functioning of the kidneys, a urine test to detect hematuria (presence of blood) in the urine and an abdominopelvic ultrasound to check for kidney stones. “The presence of an obstacle to the excretion of urine can cause lower back pain, patients say “I have pain in the kidneys” when in reality they have pain in the spine“, remarks the nephrologist.
Cysts in the kidneys, polycystic kidney disease?
“Polycystosis is an inherited kidney disease characterized by an increase in the size of the kidneys and the presence of cysts that may be responsible for lower back pain related to compression of neighboring organs. Polycystic kidney disease can be associated with high blood pressure, kidney stones; hematuria and chronic renal failure. The treatment aims to slow down the evolution of the cysts”, develops the specialist.
Urge to urinate at night, a sign to watch out for
Nocturia means getting up at night to urinate. “If she is often linked prostate disease in men older than 60it can also be linked to an inability to concentrate urine linked to kidney disease”, says Professor Christophe Legendre.
Thanks to Pr Christophe Legendre, nephrologist and head of the kidney transplant department at Necker Hospital