Dr. Anand Jain is a Consultant Nephrologist (kidney doctor) and Renal Transplant physician practising in Siliguri. He has 10+ years of experience and has been trained from top ranked institutes from Delhi. He is now extending his excellent services as a kidney specialist in the field of Nephrology in Siliguri and North Bengal. He has special interest in hypertension related kidney disease, diabetic kidney disease and kidney transplantation.
Our kidneys act as a filter clearing out waste products from our body and excrete them in the urine. Kidneys also are needed for the synthesis of Vitamin D which plays a very important role in maintaining our bone health. Kidneys are also responsible for the production of erythropoietin hormone which helps in production of haemoglobin.
Kidney disease can be acute (of short duration) or chronic (of long duration). Acute diseases are commonly caused by infections or obstruction by stone whereas chronic diseases can be caused by diabetes, hypertension, and kidney cysts etc. Kidney and urinary tract infections are also very common in the general population. There are some autoimmune diseases such as lupus etc. which also affect the kidneys.
Common symptoms of kidney disease include body swelling, decreased appetite, low haemoglobin, decreased or frothy urine, pain in the back or burning in urine. Sometimes patient may have nonspecific complains like generalized weakness, feeling low or feeling nauseated. Blood in urine can also be an important clue for kidney disease.
Common tests like urea, creatinine , uric acid levels in the blood and urine tests along with an ultrasound of the kidneys can help in diagnosing kidney diseases. Vulnerable population groups such as diabetics, hypertensives, elderly as well as those with family history of kidney disease should get their kidney functions and urine tests done annually.
Dialysis is a process by which waste products in our body are cleared either by haemodialysis (blood dialysis) or peritoneal dialysis (water dialysis). People with end stage kidney disease usually need dialysis treatment. Dialysis can add meaningful years to the life of a patient with end stage kidney disease and patients can have an active and healthy life if well managed on dialysis.
Kidney transplant is the harvesting of one kidney from a living or dead donor and transplanting it into a patient of end stage kidney disease. Kidney donation is very safe and people with two healthy kidneys and free of major comorbidities can donate a kidney to their loved ones. Kidney transplant worldwide has excellent outcomes with success rate of more than 95% in most centres. Recipients of kidney transplant do not need dialysis anymore and can live normal healthy lives without dietary restrictions. Kidney transplants usually last for a long time if adequate precautions are taken and patient is compliant with his treatment.
