Does COVID-19 affect your kidneys? (COVID-19 and Kidney Health) Let's talk about this!

When we talk about COVID-19, the first thing that comes to mind is the damage it causes to the lungs, or sometimes the heart. But did you know that this virus can also affect many other important organs in our body, especially our kidneys, in a more serious way than we think? This is something that many people don't know, but it is definitely something that you should know. So let's talk about this in a little more detail today, because this awareness will help protect you and your loved ones.

How does COVID-19 damage the kidneys?

First, let's look at what our kidneys are and what they do. Simply put, the kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located on either side of our spine, just below the rib cage. The service these two small organs provide to our body is no small feat.

• Excreting unnecessary waste products and excess fluid from the body as urine.
• Helping to control our blood pressure .
• Helps make red blood cells that carry oxygen to the body.

Imagine what would happen if the Covid-19 virus affected our kidneys, which perform such important functions.

Research has found that nearly half of people hospitalized with COVID-19 develop a condition called Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) . This is a sudden loss of kidney function over a period of hours or days. When this happens, waste products from the body begin to accumulate in the blood. This is a serious condition that can be life-threatening.

What are the causes of this type of acute kidney injury (AKI) with COVID-19?

Doctors have identified several possible causes for this:

• Direct damage to the kidney cells themselves: Sometimes, severe infections with septic shock can damage the delicate tubes that supply blood to the kidneys. We also call this Acute Tubular Necrosis'' in medical terms.
• Increased risk of blood clotting: COVID-19 infection increases the body's tendency to form blood clots. These small blood clots can get stuck in the delicate blood vessels of the kidneys and damage the kidneys.
• The virus directly infects the kidneys: In some cases, there is evidence that the COVID-19 virus directly enters kidney cells and damages them.

What are the symptoms of acute kidney injury (AKI)?

Some people may not experience any symptoms at all during this time. However, most people may experience one or more of the following symptoms. It is important to be aware of this.

Important: If a person with COVID-19 develops any of these symptoms, it is very important to notify a doctor immediately.

Learn about treatment and recovery

If this type of sudden kidney damage occurs due to COVID-19, doctors will treat both the COVID infection and the kidneys at the same time. In very severe cases, kidney function may be restored until the kidneys are able to function normally again.Dialysis, or hemodialysis, is a treatment that requires dialysis . Simply put, this is when the kidneys are unable to do their job, and a machine is used to clean the blood.

It is possible for the kidneys to recover completely after this condition. However, in most cases, after sudden kidney damage caused by COVID-19, the kidneys do not function 100% as well as they did before. Therefore, after you are discharged from the hospital, your doctor may refer you to a nephrologist . This advice will be very important to reduce the risk of developing chronic kidney disease in the future.

If you already have kidney disease...

This is the part we need to pay special attention to. If you already have any kidney disease, for example , chronic kidney disease caused by diabetes or high blood pressure, you are at a much higher risk of becoming seriously ill if you get COVID-19.

Therefore, protecting yourself is more important to you than anyone else.

• Get the COVID-19 vaccine: You can get all the doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible, as prescribed by your doctor. This is the best protection you have.
• Wash your hands regularly: Make it a habit to wash your hands thoroughly with soap or use an alcohol-based sanitizer.
• Keep your distance: Stay away from people who are sick and from crowded places as much as possible.
• If you are on dialysis: Do not skip your treatment for any reason. However, if you have any symptoms like fever or cough, let them know before going to the clinic.
• If you have had a kidney transplant: Follow your treatment plan exactly as prescribed. Never stop taking anti-rejection medicines prescribed by your doctor. Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.