Renal failure
The kidneys may fail due to any number of reasons. Recovery from kidney failure depends on if this failure is chronic or acute.
Instructions
1. Consider time frames
Acute kidney failure occurs suddenly and is marked by a sudden decline in kidney function.
Chronic kidney failure is a progressive or continuous deterioration of kidney function.
2. Consider what may be the cause
Chronic renal failure may be caused by prolonged hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hereditary kidney disease (polycistic kidney disease, developmental or congenital disorders. Obviously most of these causes are in themselves chronic conditions that people have to live with, which could then lead to chronic renal failure.
Acute renal failure can be caused by a sudden decrease in blood flow i.e shock, blood loss, burns or hypovolemia, obstrucction to urinary flow anywhere along the urinary tract and from injury to the kidneys due to toxins, immunologic processes and systemic and vascular disorders.
3. Which one may require a Kidney transplant?
Acute renal failure does not require a kidney transplant but Chronic renal failure may require a kidney transplant because the damage is progressive.
4. Which one can be cured?
Acute kidney failure is reversible therefore it can be cured. While Chronic renal failure is irreversible hence the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant.
5. Clearly it can be seen that the acute form comes and after a short time goes away but the chronic one stays and causes damage as time goes on and eventually can cause death in the absence of dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Tags: kidney failure, kidney transplant, renal failure, Chronic renal, Chronic renal failure, Acute kidney, Acute kidney failure