Prompt medical treatment is necessary to reverse an acute kidney injury, restore kidney functions, and prevent the injury from progressing to a chronic disease or degenerating into renal failure.

Treatment options include:

• Medications to restore fluid and electrolyte balance
• Diuretics to help eliminate accumulated waste
• Dialysis support for people with severe acute kidney injury
• Dietary restrictions, especially from potassium-rich foods like bananas, oranges, spinach, potatoes, and tomatoes

How to prevent acute kidney injury

A healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, and adequate hydration are key to preventing acute kidney injury. These healthy habits can reduce your chances of having an acute kidney injury, but may require you to:

• Reduce alcohol intake
• Avoid the abuse of NSAIDS like Ibuprofen and aspirin
• Exercise regularly

Challenges in the Management of Acute Kidney Injury in Africa

Acute kidney injury is still a major challenge in Africa as compared to other parts of the world. This is due to:

• Inadequate facilities and diagnostic tools

Poor communities don't have standard hospitals and laboratories. This makes it difficult for patients to access care on time.

• Few specialists, many patients

The number of people with acute kidney injury far outnumbers the number of specialists to care for them. While some patients with the injury may need to see a specialist, those who need specialists must compete with tens of other patients, which may lead to treatment delays and avoidable complications.

• Late presentation

Patients with AKI often present late to the clinic due, in part, to poverty, ignorance, and self-treatment. Some patients start with self medications, only to present at the hospital when they don't see any improvement.

• Poverty and illiteracy

Poverty and illiteracy go hand-in-hand to complicate AKI care in Africa. Some patients who have AKI and need to see a doctor help don't know they do need medical attention, while those who do may not have the financial means to get well.

• High disease burden

African patients are disproportionately affected by AKI, along with other diseases like HIV, malaria, and diarrhoea, and triggers like nephrotoxins (chemicals that hurt the kidneys). This high disease burden increases the risk of worse outcomes for African patients with AKI.