Kidney is the internal organ of the body that plays a pivotal role in purifying the blood and removing the waste materials. Among the major ailments that can affect kidney, Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) deserves a special mention. In this ailment, the kidneys of the affected person develop fluid-filled cysts. It is considered as one of the most prevalent inherited diseases.
Causes of Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
The Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) can be categorized into two types; one of them is called autosomal dominant PKD and the other is an acquired and non inherited form. The former usually affects people in the midlife and sometimes earlier. The second variant can stem out of prolonged kidney disorders and ageing. An overwhelming majority of the PKD cases take place because of an irregular gene located on chromosome 16.
If one of the parents has the ailment then the child has 50% chances of contracting the disease. In some rare instances, the disease can affect a person in his childhood and it is known as autosomal recessive PKD. If a person contracts this variant of PKD his ailment advances much faster. A child can contract this ailment if both his parents pass the defective gene.
Symptoms of Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
When a person contracts this disorder his kidneys look like a honeycomb as fluid-filled cysts grow in his kidney. With the advancement of the disease, the normal kidney tissues are replaced by these cysts. As a result the kidneys become bigger in size but they can not perform their functions properly and consistently. In the long run, the kidneys fail to function.
Apart from causing damages to the kidney, these cysts can become contaminated. If this happens the affected person will suffer from pains in the abdominal region and back along with fever. However, the adults who contract the malady may not show any visible symptom for years. When the symptoms start appearing in their bodies they may feel pain in the abdomen and urine mixed with blood. They may also suffer from infections in the urinary tract and occasional headaches.
As a matter of fact, the adults suffering from his disorder may develop cysts in their pancreas and liver. They may additionally suffer from stones in the kidney. The damages caused to the kidney can also trigger hypertension and high blood pressure. If this takes place, the condition of the kidneys may worsen. The disease progresses at a snail’s pace and hence it may remain undetected for several years.
The children who are born with the disorder can be easily identified because their abdomen becomes quite swollen for the enlarged kidneys. The degree of seriousness may vary but some such children expire after birth. If the disease runs in the family, an ultrasound examination during the pregnancy period can detect its existence prior to the birth of the baby.
Treatments for Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
Even though no specific remedy for Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is obtainable, the doctors try to treat the symptoms and prolong the life expectancy of the patients. Medicines like paracetamol are often used to relieve the pain.
If the victims complain of severe pain surgery is done to reduce the dimension of the cysts. However, it needs to be remembered that the surgery can only bring partial and temporary relief to a person and it does not prevent the progression towards kidney failure.
The victims of the disease who are suffering from infections in the urinary tract are usually treated with the antibiotic drugs. Early treatment can reduce the chances of the infection getting transferred to the cysts in the kidney.
The patients who develop high blood pressure due to the disease are advised to adapt changes in lifestyle and take medicines to keep it under control. If the disease leads to kidney failure then the kidneys of the victim needs to be transplanted with a healthy one. The transplanted kidneys do not build up cysts.
