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Symptoms of Acute Kidney Failure

The kidneys, which are two bean-shaped organs located just below the ribs on either side of the spine, filter toxins from the body through urine and maintain the balance of essential electrolytes in the body. Acute kidney failure occurs when kidneys suddenly cannot properly filter waste and water. Because acute kidney failure can quickly become life-threatening, it's important to understand the symptoms of this condition.

  1. General Malaise

    • An overwhelming feeling of malaise is often an early symptom of acute kidney failure. During this time, individuals may experience lethargy, weakness, generalized swelling, and shortness of breath. If left untreated at this state, acute kidney failure can very quickly progress into a life-threatening condition, notes an article on the MedicineNet website. As the condition progresses, so does the feeling of general malaise. This may be due to lower levels of oxygen in the blood and cells. As more wastes build up in the blood, lethargy and fatigue may become more pronounced, and patients may lose their appetites.

    Altered Urine Production

    • Failing kidneys may make too little or too much urine. Rising levels of urea in the blood due to lowered urine production can affect every major organ in the body, including the brain and heart. On the other hand, producing too much urine can lead to or contribute to dehydration. When too much urine is produced, the kidneys have lost their inability to concentrate toxins into small amounts of urine. If producing too little urine, it may be dark in color and contain blood. If producing too much, it may be pale and foamy. Urine may also stop completely. This is the most dangerous scenario, because it means that toxins will continue to build up at an accelerated rate in the body.

    Diarrhea and Vomiting

    • Diarrhea can very quickly result in dehydration. Dehydration, in turn, could result in further damage to the kidneys and an imbalance of electrolytes in the body. In particular, a deficiency of potassium due to diarrhea could affect the heart rhythms. Vomiting may also occur as the body tries to find alternate ways to remove wastes from the body.

    Labored Breathing

    • Breathing can become rapid as the level of acid not being addressed by the kidneys rises in the body. The lungs will try to buffer the rising level of acidity by blowing off carbon dioxide. Because the kidneys often hurt when a person is experiencing kidney failure, the fast-paced breathing could also increase discomfort. Additionally, this symptom may be accompanied by a rise in blood pressure. The combination can lead to heart failure.

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