# Acute kidney injury

**URL:** <https://howtodiscuss.com/t/acute-kidney-injury/19615>\
**Category:** Health\
**Created:** [September 26, 2020, 7:15am UTC](https://howtodiscuss.com/t/acute-kidney-injury/19615 "2020-09-26T07:15:52Z")\
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**Author:** ![Marij](https://howtodiscuss.com/user_avatar/howtodiscuss.com/marij/32/3777_2.png) [@Marij](https://howtodiscuss.com/u/Marij)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2020, 7:15am UTC](https://howtodiscuss.com/t/acute-kidney-injury/19615/1 "2020-09-26T07:15:52Z")

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Acute kidney injury:  
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a sudden episode of kidney failure or kidney damage that happens within a few hours or a few days. AKI causes a build-up of waste products in your blood and makes it hard for your kidneys to keep the right balance of fluid in your body. AKI can also affect other organs such as the brain, heart, and lungs.  
Symptoms:

- Too little urine leaving the body
- Swelling in legs, ankles, and around the eyes
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Shortness of breath
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Seizures or coma in severe cases
- Chest pain or pressure  
Causes:  
When your kidneys stop working suddenly, over a very short period of time (usually two days or less), it is called acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI is sometimes called acute kidney failure or acute renal failure. It is very serious and requires immediate treatment.

Unlike kidney failure that results from kidney damage that gets worse slowly, AKI is often reversible if it is found and treated quickly. If you were healthy before your kidneys suddenly failed and you were treated for AKI right away, your kidneys may work normally or almost normally after your AKI is treated. Some people have lasting kidney damage after AKI. This is called chronic kidney disease.

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