Acute Kidney Injury (AKI): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

The cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) determines the course of treatment. Your care team's main objective following an AKI diagnosis is to treat the underlying cause of your acute kidney injury (AKI) in order to restore kidney function. Acute renal failure (ARF) or acute kidney failure (AKF) are other terms for acute kidney injury.

Your kidneys suddenly stop functioning if you have an acute renal damage. When detected and treated promptly, AKI can potentially be reversible, in contrast to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), which is characterised by kidney damage that usually worsens gradually over time and cannot be reversed. Dialysis may be necessary temporarily for certain individuals with AKI until their kidney function returns to normal.

What AKI symptoms are present?

It's possible that you are AKI-symptom-free. A blood test could reveal it.

Alternatively, you can have the following signs of improper kidney function:

• A drop in your urine output
• It's possible for your pee to change colour.
• You're feeling sick.
• Swollen feet or legs
• You feel thirsty very often

Why does AKI occur?

AKI may result from:

• An ailment
• An adverse response to medicine
• Low BP
• Lack of water
• Kidney stones

Treatment for AKI?

• This will vary based on the cause. Treatments for AKI could be as easy as drinking more water.
• A drip, which inserts a tube into your arm with a needle to deliver liquids directly into your body, could be necessary if you need more fluids immediately.
• You will require routine monitoring of your blood pressure.
• It can be necessary for a machine to purify your blood if you have severe kidney impairment. We refer to this as dialysis. It's possible that you won't need to take this for very long until your kidneys heal.
• Healing after a Sudden Kidney Injury The majority of AKI patients recover completely and don't require long-term care.
• To make sure you are doing well, your doctor will take your blood pressure on a regular basis.
• You should check with your doctor before taking any new medicine in case it could damage your kidneys.

Dr.Vijay Patel is South Mumbai’s leading Nephrologist. He consults and treats kidney diseases like Chronic Kidney Disease, Diabetes Kidney Disease, Glomerular Disease, Renal Biopsy, Recurrent Kidney Stones and Kidney Transplant.