Renal disease, also known as kidney disease or chronic renal insufficiency, can affect the entire body. While some of the symptoms of renal disease can be associated with other, less serious, medical conditions, it is important to be evaluated by a physician if the symptoms appear together or remain for lengthy periods of time without improving.
Edema
Edema is the medical term for swelling that is caused by fluid retention. While this is common in older people and people with congestive heart failure, physicians from the University of Cincinnati indicate that swelling of the hands, face and feet can be a sign of protein leakage caused by renal disease.
Fatigue
Because the kidneys are responsible for removing waste products from the blood, a decline in kidney function can cause feelings of sluggishness and fatigue. According to doctors from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, fatigue is one of the earliest symptoms of renal disease.
Weakness
Madeline Vann, of New York University's Langone Medical Center, lists weakness as one of the early symptoms of renal disease. This weakness can be caused by the buildup of waste products in the blood when kidney function begins to decrease.
Itching
One of the most common renal disease symptoms is itching, particularly of the skin on the legs. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), this itching is caused by a buildup of uremic toxins in the blood. It can also be caused by too much parathyroid hormone, which is a problem for many people with renal disease.
UTI Symptoms
Some renal disease symptoms mimic the symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Doctors from the University of Cincinnati list these symptoms as urinary urgency, increased urinary frequency, burning during urination and urine that appears bloody or cloudy. Urinary tract symptoms should be reported to a doctor so that their cause can be determined and treated properly.
Nausea and Vomiting
Physicians from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center indicate that nausea and vomiting can be renal disease symptoms. They occur because of the buildup of harmful waste products in the bloodstream. People with advanced renal disease may frequently have nausea or vomiting, resulting in unintentional weight loss and malnourishment.
Difficulty Sleeping
People who have advanced renal disease may experience difficulty sleeping. It may be difficult to get to sleep or stay asleep because of the nausea, pain and other symptoms of renal disease. Advanced renal disease may also lead to the development of sleep apnea, which is defined by NKUDIC as a condition in which a person stops breathing intermittently during sleep. Sleep apnea can lead to headaches and fatigue during the day, reducing quality of life for people with renal disease.
Ill Feeling
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center physicians list a general ill feeling as one of the symptoms of renal disease. This can be caused by the buildup of uremic toxins in the blood and can be accompanied by fatigue and other renal disease symptoms. This ill feeling may remain for long periods of time without improving.
