Question

Uraemia is indicated when the blood urea level rises above
(a) 0.05%
(b) 0.04%
(c) 0.03%
(d) 0.02%

Answer 1

Uraemia is the excessive accumulation of urea and other toxic wastes in blood and tissues due to kidney diseases, or inadequate renal circulation. Uraemia can be acute or chronic. Symptoms of acute uraemia are rapid and those of chronic uraemia are gradual.

Complete step by step answer:
Kidney functioning is often impaired by infections, lesions, tumours, electrolyte imbalances, the formation of kidney stones, chemical poisons, etc. The most serious consequences of this are a renal failure. In this case, nephrons fail to function properly, resulting in oedema, acidosis and uraemia. Oedema is the swelling of body parts due to the retention of large amounts of sodium and fluids in tissues. Acidosis is the acidity of body fluids. Uraemia is the condition of having high levels of urea in the blood. Urea is one of the primary components of blood. In this case, the blood urea level rises above 0.03%. The important cause of uraemia is chronic glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis. Other common causes include acute tubular necrosis, obstruction to the outflow of urine, malignant renal hypertension, abuse of analgesics, acute sugar diabetes, etc. Uraemia can be acute or chronic. Rapid or immediate symptoms of acute uraemia include loss of appetite, progressive weakness, increasing lethargy, etc. Gradual or late symptoms include anaemia, vomiting, diarrhoea, convulsions, disturbances of sight, shortness of breath, severe headache, etc. If untreated, uraemia may lead to coma and death.
So, the correct answer is ‘(c) 0.03%’.

Additional information:
- Oedema is formerly called dropsy or hydrops is the localized swelling of body parts, resulting from the excessive or abnormal accumulation of interstitial fluid in tissue spaces beneath the skin.
- Acidosis results from the excessive production of beta- hydroxybutyric acid and acetoacetic acid in the body, low glomerular filtration of hydrogen ions, reduced production of ammonia and phosphates, marked decrease in the alkali reserve of blood, etc.
- Other renal disorders include haematuria, renal hypertension, nephrosis, renal calculi etc.
- Haematuria is the presence of blood cells, especially RBCs, in the excreting urine.
- Renal hypertension is a state of abnormally high blood pressure in the nephric blood vessels.
- Nephritis is an inflammatory disorder of kidney
- Renal calculi or kidney stones are solid and insoluble concretions of crystallized salts and some other constituents of urine.

Note: Uraemia is a medical emergency that requires urgent treatment. Dialysis is the main treatment option for uremia. A kidney transplant is another treatment option if you reach the end stage of renal failure. Since uremia is caused by severe kidney disease and kidney failure, we can prevent uremia by taking steps to prevent kidney diseases.