Children are at risk of glomerular diseases (glomerulus kidney filtering units) which are an indication for the early stage of kidney diseases, and the disease may also be hereditary.
Kidney diseases in children can be identified by urine and blood tests, especially if they have pedal edema and facial swelling.
In Japan, children are screened by nephrologists at regular intervals (before joining school), even if they do not have any symptoms so that the disease can be detected at an early stage, Dr. Said Ramesh Yelanti, Consultant Nephrologist and Transplant Physician of Ramesh Hospitals. Vijayawada
Kidney disease occurs quietly, and by the time symptoms appear, it is often late. Prompt treatment and awareness can protect patients from permanent renal failure, Drs. Ramesh said on Wednesday, several awareness programs have been arranged to mark March 11 as World Kidney Day.
To date, serum creatinine is the single best available marker for kidney disease. However, a well-done urine analysis can detect kidney disease at a very early stage, even before any increase in serum creatinine, he said.
Dr. Ramesh said that kidney failure would affect many organs and organ systems, mainly bone and heart, which would fail.
In fact, many kidney patients die of heart-related diseases before reaching the stage of dialysis.
In India, chronic kidney disease was the eighth leading cause of death. The average life span of a patient on dialysis is 5–10 years with the best of facilities and care. But many of them die very quickly due to lack of proper treatment, donors, comorbidity, and infection.
Compared to the last ten years, kidney transplant programs in India and in Andhra Pradesh have picked up and are going well, the nephrologist said.
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