4 Reasons Why An Ectopic Kidney May Kill You

Though it is well known that maintaining a healthy kidney becomes increasingly difficult over the years, there exists one particular kidney disorder that begins to affect the body very early on. Categorized as a genetic defect, an ectopic kidney refers to the misplacement of a kidney; it often occurs in the womb itself when the kidney somehow shifts upwards or crosses over to connect to the second kidney. Though an ectopic kidney may not be detected for a long time, it may lead to the onset of a number of fatal dysfunctions.

1. Urinary Tract Infection
Since one of the primary functions of the kidney involves clearing out waste products, an ectopic kidney could massively affect the process. Particularly, the flow of urine can be disrupted by the presence of an ectopic kidney as it will tend to retain the bacteria for far longer than is usual. If the urine remains in the system for too long, then it is subject to the development of a urinary tract infection. The symptoms of this may include painful urination, nausea and bouts of high fever.

2. Kidney Damage
Similarly, an ectopic kidney can also cause the urine to back up and invade the kidney region. This brings with a host of complications for the kidney and its standard functions. Though a single ectopic kidney may not lead to immediate kidney damage, the responsibilities for the other kidney doubles as it is subject to a greater load than usual. Should something happen to the other active kidney, your system may be under the threat of the much-dreaded kidney failure.

3. Kidney Stone
As one of the most common kidney disorders that continues to afflict major portions of populace year after year, a kidney stone is accompanied by a great deal of pain and discomfort. These stones are formed by means of substances such as calcium and oxalate that build up in your urinary tract. As an ectopic kidney has the tendency to interrupt the functioning of your urinary tract, the development of these urinary or kidney stones is much more likely.

4. Hydronephrosis
This particular disorder refers to the swelling of the kidney due to an over-saturation of urine. As an ectopic kidney proves more room for the bacterial substances in the urine, they tend to multiply and block the safe drainage of urine from the kidney to the bladder. It can also occur on part of blood clotting, pregnancy, kidney stones and various cancers or tumours.

The above reasons demonstrate the extent to which your body may be affected by an ectopic kidney so make sure you are able to detect it as soon as possible. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!