World Kidney Day 2013 - Kidneys for Life: Stop Kidney Attack

World Kidney Day is celebrated on the second Thursday in March with a mission to spread awareness of the significance of our kidneys to our overall health. This year, World Kidney Day is focusing on Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). Acute Kidney Injury, i.e. rapid loss of kidney function, faces gross negligence from public awareness and research. It is inadequately addressed in medical education and training. Delayed diagnosis, poor management and prolonged hospital stay have all inflated health care costs. Another major cause of concern is the proven association between traditional medicines and acute kidney injury.

The susceptibility of kidney to toxic insults is much high when compared to other organs. Many folk medicines can damage the kidneys. With a very large number people using traditional remedies throughout the world, with rates of use as high as 80% in some populations, it is high time that we shift our attention to this global problem. Yet, it would be wrong to lay the entire blame on alternative therapies; 18% to 26% of cases of AKI are drug induced, meaning, the ones prescribed by the health care systems.

There is an urgent need to raise awareness of AKI amongst physicians and hospital staff. Health care physicians who are not kidney specialists are often the ones who manage the early stages of acute kidney injury. This initial care is of utmost importance in reducing the severity of condition.

Just as heart attack and stroke campaigns have done admirable works in making the respective evils more recognisable, it is necessary to increase public awareness regarding the ‘kidney attack’. March 14^th, 2013 will mark the eighth World Kidney Day and is jointly organized by the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF).

References:

1. Acute kidney injury associated with the use of traditional medicines: Valerie A Luyckx & Saraladevi Naicker, Nature Reviews Nephrology 4, 664-671 (December 2008)

2.RCPE UK Consensus Conference on “Management of acute kidney injury: the role of fluids, ealerts and biomarkers” 16 & 17 November 2012 Authors/members of Consensus Panel: Feehally J (Co-Chair);Gilmore I (Co-Chair); Barasi S; Bosomworth M; Christie B; Davies A; Dhesi J; Dowdle R; Gibbins C; Gonzalez I; Harding S; Lamont D; Murphy G; Ostermann M; Parr J; Stevens PE. 

Source-Medindia