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Symptoms

Acute renal failure often does not cause symptoms that you notice. If you are already in the hospital, tests done for other problems may also detect your kidney failure. When symptoms do appear, they may include:

Swelling, especially of the legs and feet.
Little or no urine output.
Thirst and a dry mouth.
Rapid heart rate.
Feeling dizzy when you stand up.
Loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting.
Feeling confused, anxious and restless, or sleepy.
Pain on one side of the back, just below the rib cage and above the waist (flank pain).

The symptoms can help your doctor find out what type of kidney failure is present.

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Kidney Infections: Symptoms and Treatments

Most urinary tract infections (UTIs) involve only the bladder and urethra (the lower urinary system). Pyelonephritis results when a UTI progresses to involve the upper urinary system (the kidneys and ureters). Pyelonephritis is a potentially serious kidney infection that can spread to the blood, causing severe illness. Fortunately, pyelonephritis is almost always curable with antibiotics. The kidneys filter the blood to produce urine. Two tubes called the ureters carry urine from the kidneys down...

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Severe dehydration, a common cause of prerenal acute renal failure, may cause extreme thirst, lightheadedness or faintness, and a weak, rapid pulse.
A blockage in the urinary tract, which causes postrenal acute renal failure, may cause pain in the side or lower back, blood in the urine (hematuria), or reduced urine output (oliguria).

Uremic syndrome (uremia) is a serious complication of severe or prolonged acute renal failure. It can cause severe nausea, confusion, seizures, irregular heart rhythm, and fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema).

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: June 14, 2007

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.