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Uremia is a chronic kidney disease associated with impaired kidney efficiency. As a result of failure, uremic toxins are stored in the body. The cause of uremia is usually other diseases that lead to the destruction of the renal parenchyma.
Uremia – causes
The causes of uremia are those diseases which cause impaired function of the kidney parenchyma and vascular changes that deteriorate their blood supply. The number of nephrons in the kidney parenchyma decreases, which causes disorders of the excretory function, and this in turn causes the retention and retention of toxic metabolic products in the body.
Symptoms of uremia
Symptoms of uremia may concern various disorders: from general symptoms, through skin symptoms, to cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, reproductive and sexual system disorders. If left undiagnosed and untreated, patients may even fall into a coma due to the effects of toxic substances on the brain. Some of the symptoms of uremia are:
- increasing irritability,
- irritability or drowsiness
- feeling of numbness and limb cramps,
- progressive anorexia,
- bad taste in the mouth,
- nausea, vomiting
- sometimes diarrhea,
- anemia,
- persistent headaches,
- heart rhythm disturbances,
- dry, flaky skin; petechiae appear on it,
- the smell of ammonia from the mouth.
Uremia – treatment
Treatment of uremia is long and laborious, sometimes leading to peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis. In the initial phase, patients are monitored for diet, protein, sodium and phosphorus consumption. Then, renal replacement therapy is applied, which helps to restore normal kidney function and detoxifies the body.
Patients with kidney failure (uremia) who are not qualified for dialysis treatment and stay at home require:
- limiting physical effort to the limits of its tolerance without the occurrence of symptoms of fatigue (shortness of breath, pale face, rapid breathing),
- systematic administration of medications prescribed by a doctor to be taken at home,
- strict adherence to the recommended dietary restrictions, especially with regard to the supply of protein products and the amount of fluids consumed,
- systematic, periodic laboratory checks (urine, urea, creatinine, proteinogram) and specialist medical checks in the nephrology clinic or in the outpatient (or outpatient) outpatient clinic where the patient was possibly hospitalized.
Patients eligible for kidney transplantation, awaiting the date of its implementation, should:
- lead a mentally and physically sparing lifestyle,
- continue symptomatic pharmacological and dietary treatment recommended by the doctor, under his systematic supervision,
- avoid contact with people suffering from fever, infectious diseases, etc.,
- Report any ailments and fever to the attending physician,
- follow the regularity of dialysis.