Kidney failure may be a silent disease until far advanced. In such cases it is either not detected or is only found on incidental health screening or medical examination for employment or insurance purposes. Since the risk of developing kidney failure increases with age, the possibility to detect early and treatable kidney disease is one good reason for adults over 40 years age to undergo regular (each 2 to 5 years) general health check-up.

Early symptoms of kidney failure are non-specific. Most common are easy fatigability and tiredness and inability to keep-up the same level of physical activity as before. As anemia develops (as it does for over 90% of patients with kidney failure) even moderate physical exertion (ascending a flight of stairs) may become difficult. Patients may also note that while not sleeping so well at night they feel sleepy during the day and have difficulty concentrating on work or study. They may also experience frequent change in mood such as depression or unusual irritability.

The above are intended to be general information and not intended to be treated as a diagnosis whatsoever. You are asked to seek professional medical advice relating to all questions on treatment, care, diagnosis and medication.