Signs & Symptoms of Kidney Illness

Kidney illness refers to any condition that affects the kidneys. Normal, healthy kidneys help remove toxins and waste products from the blood. Conditions that affect kidneys include infection, inflammation, injuries, kidney stones, obstruction, defects and tumors. Because the kidneys are very adaptable organs and can compensate for decreased functioning, some signs and symptoms may go unnoticed until irreversible damage has occurred.

Pain

• You may notice a nagging pain or discomfort along your side or maybe in the middle to lower back area. Other little annoyances that may be signs of kidney illness are swelling of your feet and ankles, cramps and twitches in your muscles and a yellowish tint to your skin.

Protein in Urine

• Proteinuria is simply excessive protein in the urine. Higher levels of protein in the urine can be a sign of kidney disease or other serious illness such as diabetes, high blood pressusre, malaria, pre-eclampsia, sickle cell disease, myeloma (malignancy of plasma cells) and kidney failure. It is usually only discovered during a urinalysis to examine the contents of your urine.

Blood in Urine

• Hematuria refers to blood in the urine. Among the problems that can cause blood leakage are urinary tract infections, kidney infections, kidney stones, kidney disease and kidney injury. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common, and although some men get them, they usually affect women. Symptoms include a strong urge to urinate, pain or burning sensation when urinating and strong smelling urine. Sometimes the only sign of this problem is blood in the urine. Kidney infections have symptoms similar to those of UTIs, but can be accompanied by fever and flank pain. Kidney stones are almost painless when small, but as they grow larger, the pain becomes extreme. This condition can cause microscopic bleeding or visible bleeding. Kidney disease can be triggered by viral infections, strep infections, vascular disease and immune problems. Injuries to the kidneys happen when a blow is delivered to the kidneys during an accident or sports activity, sometimes resulting in visible bleeding.

Weight Gain

• Weight gain, accompanied by any of the above symptoms, can be a sign of a potentially dangerous kidney disease known as lupus nephritis. Ways to detect this disease are through urinalysis, X-rays, blood tests, imaging studies and a biopsy of the kidney.