Chronic kidney disease means the kidneys are not working as well as they should over a long period of time.
Early stages may cause no symptoms. Later symptoms can include tiredness, swollen feet or face, poor appetite, nausea, itching, shortness of breath, or passing urine more often at night.
Imaging helps show kidney size, scarring, cysts, blockage, or another structural cause that may be contributing to reduced kidney function.
Ultrasound is often the first imaging test because it can show whether the kidneys are small, scarred, swollen, obstructed, or affected by cysts or other abnormalities.
Management usually includes treatment of the cause, blood pressure control, diabetes care where relevant, diet advice, and follow-up with a kidney specialist when needed.
This entry explains the condition. The next step is having a radiologist interpret your specific scan, not a general definition.
