Severity Of Malaria In Seniors On Dialysis

The octogenarians and the septuagenarians have a higher chance of being infected with renal diseases that may require frequent dialysis. Dialysis helps in removing waste, extra water and salt to prevent the body from accumulating them. This maintains a safe level of the required chemicals in the blood such as potassium, sodium and bicarbonate. This mechanism is normally performed by the body when the kidneys are in order. The need for dialysis usually arises when the kidney fails to filter and flush out the unwanted elements from the body. But with age and due to certain age-related health disorders, the geriatric kidneys lose the capability of carrying out regular functions increasing the chances of renal failure and calling out for dialysis. 

When talking about dialysis, the most frequent question asked is –

Is kidney failure a permanent affair? 

As per the leading medical journals, some kinds of kidney failure or renal failure can get better with treatment. If kidney failure is detected at the initial stages, the patient may require dialysis only for a short time till the kidneys get completely healed. 

However, at the end stages of kidney failure, the possibility of the kidneys getting better is least and hence the patients need to continue with dialysis for the rest of their life. Kidney replacement can be an effective way to deal with kidney failure, however, there are several aspects that come into play such as age, the ability of the body to accept a new kidney and other health factors. In such cases, it is important to seek specialist advice before coming to a decision. 

You can get in touch with adept physicians like Dr. Amitabha Saha who is known for treating critical illnesses. He holds vast experience in treating kidney disorders along with liver, heart and more. Patients with fatty liver can also consult for expert advice. For contact details just simply type, “Fatty liver specialist near me” on your preferred search engine’s search page. 

Complications induced by dialysis 

Though a life-saving method, dialysis comes with its own set of complications. Before finalising whether or not to choose dialysis, it is advisable that you learn about the possible side effects that you can invite along with the process. 

Before we start, the common side effects depend on the dialysis procedure order type of treatment. Usually 3 types of dialysis are carried out, namely, Hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and continuous renal replacement therapy or CRRT. Based on this, the side effects are distinguished as – 

Peritoneal dialysis 

Peritoneal dialysis invites the risk of infection along with other side effects such as, 

  • Weight gain – The administration of dialysate may also lead to a sudden weight gain due to the additional calories. In addition, there are other factors that affect such as lack of exercise and nutrition.
  • High blood sugar – Dialysate consists of a sugar named dextrose that is commonly used for intravenous nutrition. These kinds of sugars have the tendency to increase the blood sugar levels of the body. People already suffering from diabetes may increase the chances of hyperglycemia on peritoneal dialysis.
  • Peritonitis – Peritonitis occurs when bacteria enter the peritoneum while the catheter is being inserted or used. The most common symptoms of peritonitis include tenderness, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and nausea. Upon noticing such symptoms, it is important to consult with the doctor appointed for your dialysis.
  • High potassium – Dialysis can spike up the potassium levels in the body because of the lack of proper filtration. 
  • Hernia – Hernia occurs when fatty tissues or organs push through the opening of the muscle. Peritoneal dialysis increases the risk of developing an abdominal hernia as the dialysate adds additional pressure on the abdominal walls. Upon noticing small abdominal lumps do speak to your doctor to understand the possibility of a hernia. 

Other adversities may include anxiety and stress. This is because of the continuous medical procedures and physical difficulties that lead to depression. Geriatric people undergoing dialysis are also prone to suffering from dementia in the near future. 

Hemodialysis

The adverse side effects of hemodialysis may include – 

  • Muscle cramps – Muscle cramp is quite common during the dialysis process because of the change in fluid or mineral balance in the body.
  • Blood clots – The installation process of the dialysis can lead to narrowing of the blood vessels which can cause swelling and blood clots in the upper half of the body. If so, the patient should seek medical help immediately.
  • Low blood pressure – Due to the temporary loss of fluids, low blood pressure or hypertension is a common side effect observed during hemodialysis.  Symptoms include clammy skin, dizziness, blurry vision, nausea and more. 

Other adversities include anaemia, heart conditions, difficulty in sleeping and plenty of others. Renal failure also affects thyroid functions in several ways and hence one should keep constant touch with a thyroid doctor in Kolkata throughout the process of hemodialysis. 

In addition to the above, patients undergoing dialysis are at a higher risk of getting infections. This is because of the weekend immune response and the side effects of the procedures. Patients are more prone to diseases like malaria and other life-threatening disorders during the process of dialysis. On the other hand, being infected with Malaria can also increase the chances of kidney disorders which may require dialysis as an effective part of the treatment. In the case of malaria, renal involvement is associated with Plasmodium falciparum and P.malariae. 

P.malariae is known to cause immune complex-mediated glomerular disorder that may lead to nephrotic syndrome. Infections caused due to P.falciparum leads to acute manifestations ranging between asymptomatic urinary abnormalities and acute renal failure which may require dialysis support to combat the adverse conditions. In such cases, it is important to seek medical help as fast as possible to prevent life-threatening disorders. 

For expert advice, you can get in touch with experienced doctors like Dr. Amitabha Saha.