Final answer:
Renal failure refers to the malfunctioning of the kidneys in filtering waste from the blood, often signalled by an elevated serum creatinine level and decreased glomerular filtration rate. Causes range from acute injuries to chronic conditions such as diabetes, and treatment may include kidney dialysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Renal failure occurs when the kidneys fail to function as required. The kidneys are essential for filtering wastes from the blood and maintaining body-wide homeostasis. When they cannot remove wastes, toxic substances build up in the body, leading to serious health issues. Renal failure can be sudden (acute renal failure) or gradual (chronic kidney disease), and is typically detected by elevated serum creatinine and a decreased glomerular filtration rate.
Some common causes of kidney failure include physical injury to the kidneys, significant blood loss, exposure to certain drugs and poisons, as well as diseases like diabetes. In cases where the kidneys cannot recover, treatments such as kidney dialysis may become necessary. Dialysis artificially filters waste from the blood, compensating for the loss of kidney function and allowing patients to continue living despite the failure of their kidneys.
Moreover, the presence of symptoms such as abnormal fluid levels, altered acid levels, changes in potassium, calcium, phosphate concentrations, hematuria (blood in the urine), and anemia can all be indicative of renal failure. Maintaining kidney health is crucial as chronic kidney disease can lead to permanent kidney failure, necessitating long-term dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain life.