13 July 2023
It has recently been highlighted in the news of a sad passing of a boy aged 12. The boy had been delayed 5 hours in hospital without any administering of fluid for his kidney disease. This treatment was provided at Royal Derby Hospital under The University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB). Please click here for more information of the sad case: Boy, 12, died in hospital after five-hour delay administering fluids – BBC News.
What do the Kidneys do?
The kidneys, which are two bean shaped organs, help to keep your blood clean; they filter out extra water and waste from your blood and make urine.
If your kidneys are damaged, such as following an acute kidney injury, kidney cysts, kidney stones or kidney infection, they are not able to filter the blood in the way that they should. This is called Chronic Kidney Disease, which can have serious consequences.
Risks of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
CKD can affect anyone and at any age. You are at greater risk of kidney disease if you have one of the follow risk factors:
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- High blood pressure
- Cardiovascular, heart and circulatory disease
- Family history of kidney disease
- If you are from a minority ethnic background
- Being overweight/obese
CKD, although unable to be cured, can be managed by treatment; such treatment aims to relieve the symptoms but most importantly, stop it getting worse. There are various stages of CKD up to stage 5, which is kidney failure. If you have kidney failure, you may need regular dialysis or a kidney transplant and it can be fatal. Early diagnosis of CKD can therefore make a huge difference.
But what are the symptoms?
Kidney disease does not tend to cause symptoms when it is at an early stage, as your body is usually able to cope with a significant reduction in kidney function. Kidney disease at an early stage is often picked up after routine testing for other conditions, such as blood or urine testing.
People with more advanced kidney disease can experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms. Symptoms can include:
- Tiredness and lack of energy
- Dry skin
- Itching
- Difficulty sleeping
- Poor appetite and weight loss
- Decreased interest in sex and/or difficulty becoming sexually aroused
- Bone or joint pain
- Muscle cramps
- Restless legs
- Swollen ankles, feet or hands caused by water retention (oedema)
- Feeling sick
- Dizziness or light-headedness
- Finding it difficult to concentrate
- Feeling sad, irritable or anxious
- Headaches
- Shortness of breath
Useful Information
Useful information and guidance regarding kidney disease can be accessed on the following links:
- Home – Kidney Research UK
- NKF Helpline and Helpline Information and leaflets | National Kidney Federation
- Kidney Care UK, the UK’s leading kidney patient support charity | Kidney charity
- The UK Kidney Association
Our medical negligence department have represented a number of clients in respect of issues with diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease. These include successfully concluding a case against the South Tees Hospital NHS Trust in relation to the failure to refer a client, who was at increased risk of kidney disease due to suffering from an autoimmune disorder to a nephrologist (kidney specialist). This resulted in delay in diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease and avoidable progression.
Another case successfully pursued was against the Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, in respect of delay in diagnosis of kidney failure after a kidney transplant. “They saw someone in a wheelchair with no legs, they didn’t see me,” said the client. “I was made to feel like my life had no value. It wasn’t about the money for me, it was about winning.”
Should you or a loved one have suffered a kidney injury and feel that there has been a delay in diagnosis or treatment, please contact our medical negligence department to explore how they can assist.
