Pakistan ranks eighth globally in kidney diseases

KARACHI: Experts at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) said Pakistan stands at eighth number worldwide for high prevalence of kidney diseases causing 20,000 deaths annually.

“And this trend is growing alarmingly,” said an expert at a day-long public awareness programme organised by the SIUT at its Dewan Farooq Medical Centre Karachi.

Highlighting the factors behind chronic kidney diseases, the experts said, it is caused primarily due to diabetes, kidney glomerular diseases and high blood pressure in addition to excessive use of painkillers, uncertified herbal medicines, genetic disorders, defects at birth, stone disease, infections, environmental pollution, unhygienic conditions and old age.

The experts said key symptoms  of kidney diseases are: swollen face and feet, fatigue, lack of appetite, lack of concentration

Yesterday, World Kidney Day was observed across the world including Pakistan.

The day is observed to raise awareness among the people about the chronic kidney diseases.

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Several seminars, workshops, medical camps and awareness drives were conducted both by the government as well as private organizations, medical institutions throughout the country to highlight the importance of the day.

World Kidney Day started in 2006 and has not stopped growing ever since. Every year, the campaign highlights a particular theme.