Kidney Failure

When To Call A Professional

Many people with acute renal failure already are hospitalized for their other medical conditions when kidney failure develops. Other people should call a health care professional whenever the amount of urine they produce either increases or decreases markedly. In people with decreased urine output, swelling of the face and ankles is another danger sign, especially if there is also shortness of breath. For people with chronic renal failure, it is a good idea to check with your health care provider whenever a new medication is prescribed.

Prognosis

Most children with acute renal failure have a good outlook for recovering their kidney function, although in rare cases, end-stage renal disease can develop. Among adults, the chances of recovery depend primarily on the underlying reason for acute renal failure rather than the renal failure itself. Among people who recover, about 50 percent have some permanent kidney damage, but in most cases, this is not severe enough to prevent them from living a normal life.

People with chronic renal failure may have a continuing decrease in kidney function, but not everyone develops end-stage renal disease. For those who do, the time it takes for end-stage renal disease to develop varies from person to person.

Additional Info

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders Office of Communications and Public Liaison Building 31, Room 9A04 Center Drive, MSC 2560 Bethesda, MD 20892-2560 Phone: (301) 496-3583 Fax: (301) 496-7422 http://www.niddk.nih.gov/

National Kidney Foundation 30 East 33rd St. New York, NY 10016 Phone: (212) 889-2210 Toll-Free: (800) 622-9010 Fax: (212) 689-9261 http://www.kidney.org/