Find more information about some of the medical words and terms you may hear or read relating to kidney conditions in babies, children and young people.
Too much acid in the body; this can happen when the kidneys do not remove enough acid into the urine. May also be called metabolic acidosis.
Term used for a condition that starts suddenly and that may not last very long.
A condition where the kidneys suddenly stop working properly. This can happen over a period of a few days or a few weeks. In some children it can be very serious .
Gland that sits on top of each kidney and helps to regulate (control) how it works. “Ad” means near or next to, and “renal” means kidney.
The most abundant type of protein in the body.
An accurate way of measuring the level of albuminuria, or albumin in the urine. It compares the amount of albumin to the amount of creatinine in a urine sample.
An abnormal amount of albumin in the urine.
Medicines that relax blood vessels to reduce blood pressure. They are also called alpha-adrenoceptor-blocking medicines.
Measuring blood pressure when you are moving around; this may be done in your home.
A shortage of red blood cells in the body, measured as haemoglobin levels or red blood cell count.
Use of medicines (anaesthetics) to avoid feeling pain.
Medicine that is given to avoid feeling pain – this includes local anaesthetics, which are applied to a particular site on the body, and general anaesthesia, which makes a patient go to sleep to avoid feeling pain anywhere in the body.
Medicines that relax blood vessels to reduce blood pressure.
Medicines that relax blood vessels to reduce blood pressure; may also be called angiotensin II receptor antagonists.
A type of medicine to treat bacterial infections.
Proteins that are made in the body to destroy bacteria and viruses; they are part of the immune system.
A hormone that controls how much urine the body makes. ADH is carried in the blood to the cells in the kidneys. When a lot of ADH is released, the kidneys re-absorb (take back) more water. This means there is less water in the urine, and so it is more concentrated.
Passing no urine.
Irregular heartbeat.
One of two types of blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to the body.
Abnormal heartbeat.