Kidney Disease Diagnosis

Kidney disease is a condition that affects many people, although it is more prevalent in individuals of age 60 and above who suffer from hypertension and diabetes. Kidney disease can lead to both chronic and acute kidney failure, conditions which are life-threatening to say the least. Chronic kidney failure occurs in a gradual pace over an extended period of time say months to years. On the other hand, acute kidney failure occurs suddenly in a matter of hours to days, however, it is reversible if the underlying cause is treated as soon as possible.

The first stages of kidney disease diagnosis are characterized by nausea, fatigue, trouble when urinating, problems with concentration and sleeping, feeling thirsty all the time, and experiencing lower back pain. Generally, the kidneys once affected will shut down and not be able to filter excess water off the blood or wastes from the body. This results in accumulation of toxin in the blood causing a number of complications that affect different body systems. Chronic kidney failure will reach a point of no return, whereby the kidney will be working at less than 10% of its full capacity. This results into a kidney transplant or dialysis for normal living of the patient to continue.

Unless there is a tumor in the kidneys or they are swollen, kidney disease diagnosis can be difficult because the doctor may not be able to detect the disease by simply feeling the kidneys. Kidney disease diagnosis is done by taking a blood and urine test, scanning the kidneys, as well as doing several tests on samples of the kidney tissue. Urinalysis, or urine test if you like, is the most common test for the diagnosis of kidney disease that tests the blood, sugar, protein, and ketones (formed as a result of the body breaking down fat).

Urinalysis for kidney disease diagnosis is done using a dipstick i.e. a thin plastic that is coated with chemicals and which reacts once it comes in contact with the different substances found in urine. Urinalysis also calls for checking of the white and red blood cells whereby the urine will be examined under a microscope for proper diagnosis to be made. Note however that even though these are the commonest tests for proper kidney disease diagnosis, depending on the alleged cause of the kidney problem, the doctor may order more tests to be done.

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