IMPORTANT TIPS ON ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY FOR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIANS IN SUB-SAHARA AFRICA

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Akinwumi Akinbodewa
Dr. Oluyomi Okunola

Keywords

Abstract

The number of Nephrology Specialists continue to lag desperately behind the standard requirements for the Nigerian populace, a situation that is replicated in most sub-Saharan countries in Africa. This has resulted in unfavourable impact on clinical outcomes among patients who present with life-threatening renal diseases that require early recognition and prompt intervention such as acute kidney injury, nephrogenic pulmonary oedema and acute dyselelctrolaemia.


It has been shown that early intervention by primary care physicians portends better outcomes for patients with acute kidney injury through early recognition of the disease, prompt intervention and (where necessary) referral to the Nephrologist.


However, recent studies indicate that majority of primary care physicians are inadequately equipped with knowledge of the disease thus defeating the purpose of primary care physicians having early contact with such patients. In this article, we aimed to present primary care physicians working in sub-Sahara Africa and other third world countries some simplified but current and practical tips on early recognition of acute kidney injury and the necessary first steps to take during interventions.


One of the take home points in this article is the relevance of focused history taking in identifying the aetiological agent(s) of acute kidney injury across the major sub-specialties in contemporary times in sub-Sahara African hospitals as most patients cannot afford hi-tech, sophisticated investigations when and where they are available.

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