Renal failure
Renal Failure
Renal failure (pronounced: /ˈriːnəl ˈfeɪljər/), also known as kidney failure, is a medical condition in which the kidneys cease to function properly. This can be a result of a variety of causes, including disease, injury, or congenital defects.
Etymology
The term "renal" comes from the Latin word renes, meaning kidneys. "Failure" is derived from the Old French faillir, which means to lack or be deficient in.
Types of Renal Failure
There are two main types of renal failure: acute renal failure (ARF) and chronic renal failure (CRF).
- Acute renal failure is a sudden and often temporary loss of kidney function. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including severe infection, trauma, or certain medications.
- Chronic renal failure is a long-term condition that develops over many years. It is often the result of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
Symptoms
Symptoms of renal failure can vary depending on the type and severity of the condition. Common symptoms include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and edema (swelling). In severe cases, renal failure can lead to uremia, a dangerous buildup of waste products in the blood.
Treatment
Treatment for renal failure depends on the underlying cause and the severity of the condition. Options may include dialysis, a procedure that artificially filters waste products from the blood, or kidney transplant, in which a healthy kidney is transplanted from a donor.
Related Terms
- Nephrology: The branch of medicine that deals with the study of the kidneys.
- Nephron: The functional unit of the kidney.
- Uremia: A high level of waste products in the blood, often due to kidney failure.
- Dialysis: A treatment that filters and purifies the blood using a machine.
- Kidney transplant: A surgical procedure to replace a diseased kidney with a healthy one from a donor.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Renal failure
- Wikipedia's article - Renal failure
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