World kidney day is celebrated on 8th of March. This year, the theme of World kidney day is to increase awareness about the kidney related problems and women’s health. Chronic kidney disease(CKD) is a kidney disease which leads to slow loss of kidney function during a period of time or months or years. Manipal hospitals started an awareness campaign to educate women on leading a healthy lifestyle. The hospital has lined up number of awareness program including the free screening from March 8 to March 16, 2018.
Veteran Nephrologist and Chairman of Manipal Hospitals, Dr. Sudarshan Ballal said, “ Kidney disease can be controlled and prevented if we understand the circumstances and risk factors which predispose us to it “. This may lead you to dialysis or a kidney transplant. This only in later part of the disease one get to know about the symptoms of the Chronic kidney disease. At first, there will be no symptoms but after some time you will get the symptoms of leg swelling, vomiting, loss of appetite, feeling tired or changed behavior.
It is seen that majority of the Chronic kidney disease patients get diagnosed at last stage. Patients ranging from less 5 to 10 percent get a chance for dialysis and transplant. This disease is common among both men and women, still, less than 30 percent patients who are treated at last stage are women. It is highlighted than between 8 to 10 percent of them go for treatment. This percentage shows us there is a lack of awareness about this disease which leads them to not opting for the treatment.
There is a need for the awareness about the disease to the patients. They need to know that there are three types of treatment available for transplant, hemodialysis(HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). Nephrologist of Columbia Asia Hospital, Dr. Pallavi Patri said that” there are several challenges faced by women who have CKD. They miss their periods or menstruation irregularities or excess mensuration may occur. Disease in libido and vaginal dryness may also occur. It is seen that the women who have CKD face difficulty to conceive. “
