End stage renal failure mimicking as acute renal failure in developing countries

Sir, We here are highlighting the scenario of presentation of renal dysfunction in developing countries like India where a large number of patients present clinically as acute renal failure (ARF) but on thorough evaluation found to have advanced stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD stages 4 and 5)1 . Historically these patients are symptomatic for few days prior to presenting. Preceding slight unwell-ness is ignored either by patient or his family physician. They are often being treated with non-specific medications like analgesics and multivitamins which act as placebo. Iron deficiency anemia is unevaluated for a renal cause. Non-standardized laboratories under diagnose early CKD. Ultrasound imaging too is of poor quality. All the more there are no nationalized health screening programmes. To add to the dismal scenario, at the tertiary care centres they are initially admitted as ARF, with a hope of significant recovery. But later on they turn out to be CKD 5.