kidney disease

Kidney disease is a collective term for conditions in which the kidneys no longer function properly. The kidneys normally filter waste and excess fluid from the blood, and when this function decreases, waste builds up in the body. Kidney disease can occur suddenly, for example from an infection or poisoning, but often develops slowly over years, such as from chronic kidney damage caused by diabetes or high blood pressure. When kidney function decreases, symptoms can develop such as fatigue, fluid accumulation, and an imbalance of minerals in the blood. On a site about incurable diseases, this term appears because chronic kidney disease is often not curable, but can be monitored and treated.