Home / Health / Self-Medication Fuels India's Kidney Disease Crisis
Self-Medication Fuels India's Kidney Disease Crisis
11 Mar
Summary
- India ranks second globally in kidney disease cases.
- Self-medication with painkillers and antibiotics is a major risk.
- Chronic kidney disease often lacks early symptoms.
India is experiencing a significant increase in kidney disease cases, now ranking second globally with an estimated 115-138 million individuals affected. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) often presents no early symptoms, making routine blood and urine tests crucial for diagnosis. Without timely detection, CKD can escalate to kidney failure, necessitating dialysis or a transplant.
While high blood sugar and blood pressure are primary causes, experts highlight self-medication as a critical risk factor in India. This practice involves taking medication for self-diagnosed symptoms without professional medical advice, leading to potential adverse effects and drug resistance. Easy availability of over-the-counter drugs and a lack of universal health insurance contribute to this trend.
Commonly implicated drugs include Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain relief and antibiotics. These can decrease kidney blood flow or cause inflammation, potentially leading to acute kidney injury that may progress to chronic disease. Even indigenous medicines can pose risks due to unknown constituents.
