Kidneys on Strike: Understanding Acute Kidney Injury Before They Quit

• Written by Leena Khowal

  Reviewed by Ritika Malik

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Let’s be honest, hearing the term acute kidney injury can instantly make anyone nervous. It sounds serious, medical, and, honestly, a little concerning. But before panic kicks in, here’s the good news: once you understand what it actually means, most of the confusion clears up. It refers to a sudden decline in kidney function; with early diagnosis and treatment, many people recover completely.

If you’ve ever wondered, “What exactly is acute renal deficiency?”, “How do I know if I have symptoms?”, or “What’s the most common cause of acute kidney injury?” In this blog, we’ll walk you through the symptoms, causes, stages, parenchymal changes in the kidney, treatment options, and even some quick prevention tips. Let’s get into it!

What Is Acute Kidney Injury?

Think of your kidneys as your body’s personal cleaning and balancing system. They filter your blood, remove waste, balance fluids, and maintain electrolyte levels. Now imagine this system suddenly slowing down or stopping; that’s acute kidney injury.

It doesn’t happen gradually, as in chronic kidney disease. Acute Kidney Injury occurs quickly, within hours to days, usually because something disrupts blood flow, blocks urine flow, or directly damages kidney tissue. The best part? It is often reversible when caught early.

Stages of Acute Kidney Injury

The severity of kidney dysfunction may be categorised into five stages. It always depends on the eGFR: in stage I, the damage is mild, whereas in stage V, the kidney stops working completely. Refer to the table below for the stages and their conditions.

Parenchymal Changes in Kidney: What Does That Even Mean?

If you’ve seen this term in a report, don’t panic. “Parenchymal changes” basically means changes in the working tissue of the kidney. Some changes are mild and reversible, while others need long-term care. Imaging tests, such as ultrasound, usually detect this.

This could be due to:

• Inflammation
• Scarring
• Longstanding infections
• Tissue damage

Causes of Acute Kidney Injury

Diabetes and high blood pressure are the most common causes of acute kidney injury. Unmanaged diabetes is characterised by high blood sugar and high blood pressure, which means the blood flows forcefully through blood vessels. Both can lead to acute renal deficiency and can damage your kidneys and other organs as well.

However, doctors usually categorise Acute Kidney Injury causes into three types. Think of them as “before the kidney,” “inside the kidney,” and “after the kidney.”:

Pre-renal Cause of Acute Kidney Injury

Approximately 70 per cent of acute kidney injury is due to this prerenal cause. Prerenal acute renal failure occurs when blood flow to the kidneys is reduced. In this condition, kidney function may be normal, but glomerular filtration may be reduced. The common pre-renal causes of acute kidney injury include:

• Severe dehydration
• Low blood pressure due to blood loss or shock
• Liver failure
• Heart failure

This is the most common reason people end up with Acute Kidney Injury, and the good part? It’s often reversible.

Intrinsic-Renal Causes, When the Kidney Itself Gets Hurt

This includes damage to the kidney tissues, filters, or blood vessels. These causes may appear after infections, medication reactions, autoimmune disorders, or prolonged hospital stays. The common intrinsic renal causes of acute and chronic kidney injury may include:

• Acute tubular necrosis
• Acute interstitial nephritis
• Glomerulonephritis
• Lupus nephritis

Post-Renal Causes: When Something Blocks the Urine Flow

This is like a plumbing issue. Urine can’t flow out, so it backs up and puts pressure on the kidneys. Clearing the blockage often restores kidney function.

Some of the post-renal acute kidney injury causes include:

• Ureteric obstruction - Kidney Stone disease
• Tumour
• Fibrosis
• Ligation during pelvic surgery (Surgical complications)

Acute Kidney Damage Symptoms

Acute Kidney Injury can be sneaky. Sometimes the symptoms feel like “just tiredness” or “just acidity,” and that’s where people miss the early signs. Here’s what you should actually look out for:

• Swelling in your legs, ankles, and feet
• Feeling drowsy or very tired
• Shortness of breath
• Itching
• Joint pain, swelling
• Loss of appetite
• Feeling Confused
• Inadequate urine discharge
• Throwing up or feeling like you’re going to
• Chest pain or pressure in the chest
• Muscle twitching
• Seizures or coma
• Stomach pain
• Back pain
• Fever
• Rash
• Nosebleed

Acute Kidney Injury Diagnosis

The diagnostic process for acute and chronic kidney injury may vary depending on your physical examination findings. The following are the available diagnosis options:

• Blood tests: These help check creatinine, urea nitrogen, sodium, and potassium. If these are high, your kidneys need help.
• Urine Tests: These help determine the type of Acute Kidney Injury you have and whether there’s an infection or protein loss.
• Imaging (Ultrasound/CT Scan): To see if there’s a blockage, swelling, stones, or parenchymal changes.
• Kidney Biopsy (Sometimes): A tiny tissue sample is examined if the doctor needs more precise answers.

The process might sound complicated, but each test tells the doctor exactly what's happening inside your kidneys.

>> Read More: 4 Valuable Tips That Will Keep Your Kidneys Healthy

Acute Kidney Injury Treatment

Treatment of acute kidney injury varies and depends on the cause, but usually includes:

Fixing the Root Cause

• IV fluids (sterile liquid solutions with salts/sugars, given directly into a vein to rapidly restore lost fluids and electrolytes when oral intake isn't enough) for dehydration.
• Antibiotics for infections.
• Adjusting or stopping harmful medications.

Acute Kidney Injury Medication

Your doctor may prescribe medicines to:

• Remove excess fluid (diuretics).
• Balance electrolytes.
• Control blood pressure.

Please never self-medicate with kidney-related medicines that need careful monitoring.

Temporary Dialysis

If things get too backed up, dialysis helps do the cleaning work while the kidneys recover. Most patients with Acute Kidney Injury do NOT need long-term dialysis.

Diet Adjustments

Expect recommendations like:

• Low sodium
• Low potassium
• Controlled protein
• Adequate hydration

Food is a significant part of recovery, and it helps

How to Prevent Acute Kidney Injury?

Prevention is better than cure-Desiderius Erasmus, Dutch philosopher. You don’t need fancy routines. Just follow the basics:

• Stay hydrated.
• Eat a balanced diet (berries, apples, pomegranates, cherries).
• Avoid smoking and limit alcohol.
• Exercise regularly.
• Keep your diabetes and blood pressure under control.
• Avoid unnecessary painkillers.
• Get regular kidney checkups if you’re at risk.

Small lifestyle habits can significantly protect the kidneys.

Key Takeaways!!

Acute kidney injury may sound alarming, but once you understand what causes it, what symptoms to watch for, and how it’s treated, it becomes far less intimidating. Acute Kidney Injury is one of those conditions where timing matters more than anything else. The earlier you catch it, the faster your kidneys bounce back. Whether the cause is dehydration, a blockage, an infection, or a medication reaction, most people recover well when treatment begins early.

But one thing we often overlook is how quickly medical bills can accumulate, especially when hospitalisation, imaging tests, or temporary dialysis are needed. That’s why having a reliable health insurance plan is so important. Health insurance plans can support you during kidney-related treatments by covering hospitalisation, tests, and medications, giving you peace of mind when you need it most.

Stay aware, stay hydrated, and don’t hesitate to consult a specialist when something feels off. Your kidneys deserve it!

Disclaimers: All plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting are subject to policy terms and conditions. Kindly refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and policy documents carefully.