What are the most common kidney diseases?

The main ones are pyelonephritis (kidney infection), kidney stones, chronic kidney failure, and renal cysts.

How does abnormal urinary flow affect the kidneys?

Blocked or abnormal urine flow reduces kidney function and can lead to chronic disease over time.

What can I do in everyday life to prevent kidney disease?

Drink enough water, prevent infection, get tested early when urinary problems appear, and have regular health screenings.

When is inpatient treatment necessary?

Hospitalization is needed if fever or abdominal pain is severe, if dehydration is severe, or if medication brings no improvement within 2–3 days.

Locations

Fraud-Click Monitoring

boraware active

Directions Directions

Test Result Inquiry Test Result Inquiry

Appointment Appointment

Ask a Doctor Ask a Doctor

Request a Phone Consultation

Select Location *

Name *

Contact *

Preferred Contact Time *

Please write your inquiry. (100 characters max) *

Consent to Collection & Use of Personal Information

Goldman Urology AI curation background image

AI CURATION

Briefly describe your symptoms
to the smart Goldman AI.

e.g. I urinate frequently and always feel residual urine
e.g. I feel a burning pain when I urinate
e.g. Itchy, stinging blisters on my genitals

Kidney Disease

Kidney dysfunction shows itself in your urine — early diagnosis is critical.

A warning from your kidneys:
abnormal urinary flow can lead to declining kidney function.

Urology specialist Choi Ho Chul, kidney disease information, Goldman TV

VIEW

Kidney disease arises from urinary tract abnormalities,
so early diagnosis and treatment are essential.

SINCE 2002, the hub of AI smart healthcare

What is kidney disease?

Kidney disease refers to a condition in which declining kidney function makes it difficult for the body to remove waste and excess fluid.
Early diagnosis and treatment are important, and care focuses on preventing chronic renal failure and further deterioration of kidney function.

Kidney disease: what symptoms accompany it?

Kidney disease has almost no noticeable symptoms in its early stages, making early detection difficult.
Watch closely for warning signs such as swelling, fatigue, and changes in urine, and seek prompt diagnosis and treatment to avoid chronic renal failure and prevent declining kidney function.

Swelling (Edema)

When the body cannot excrete fluid properly,
swelling appears in the face, hands, and feet.
Fatigue

Declining kidney function lets waste build up in the body,
causing overall fatigue.
Changes in Urination

Abnormal symptoms appear, such as reduced urine output,
color changes, and foamy urine.
Rising Blood Pressure

Because the kidneys affect blood pressure regulation,
hypertension may develop or worsen.
Loss of Appetite

Toxin buildup in the body reduces appetite
and may cause indigestion.
Back Pain

Discomfort or pain may appear
in the area around the kidneys.

Think you may have kidney disease?
Kidney disease types · symptoms · treatment at a glance

What Is Pyelonephritis?

Pyelonephritis is an inflammation caused by a urinary tract infection spreading to the kidneys.

It is divided into acute and chronic types.

Treating it properly at the acute stage to prevent recurrence is important, and if left untreated it can lead to serious complications.

Acute Pyelonephritis Patients by Sex and Age

* Source: Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (2015)

11.6%

Teens and under

11.3%

20s

13.5%

30s

16.4%

40s

18.4%

50s

12.3%

60s

11%

70s

5.5%

80s and older

	Acute pyelonephritis	Chronic pyelonephritis
Symptoms	High fever, chills, flank pain, abdominal pain, painful urination	Vague symptoms such as back pain, fatigue, and frequent urination
Features	More common in women, especially in their 30s to 50s	Seen with kidney abnormalities or recurrent acute episodes
Risk of complications	May progress to sepsis or become chronic if left untreated	Risk of kidney function loss, renal failure, and hypertension

Causes of Pyelonephritis

Pyelonephritis most often develops when bacteria travel up the urethra to the bladder and kidneys and cause an infection, and factors such as urinary stones, structural abnormalities, and a weakened immune system can contribute to it.

Symptoms of Pyelonephritis

The main symptoms of pyelonephritis are sudden high fever and chills, flank pain, painful and frequent urination, and fatigue.

High fever and chills
Flank and back pain
Painful and frequent urination
Blood in the urine and cloudy urine
General fatigue

How Pyelonephritis Is Diagnosed

Pyelonephritis is diagnosed by symptoms, urinalysis, blood tests, and abdominal ultrasound or CT.

Acute pyelonephritis

Urinalysis

A urine test checks for bacteriuria, pyuria, hematuria, and similar findings.
Genetic amplification test (Multiplex PCR test)

Tests many bacteria at once to identify the cause quickly and accurately.
Kidney Ultrasound

Non-invasively checks kidney shape and size and any pus or stones.
Intravenous Urography (IVU)

Contrast dye is injected into a vein to image the kidneys and urinary tract in detail.

Chronic pyelonephritis

Intravenous Urography (IVU)

Chronic pyelonephritis is hard to diagnose: symptoms may be absent and routine tests normal, so intravenous urography is used to check for kidney deformity.

Pyelonephritis Treatment

Antibiotics are the mainstay; severe symptoms may require hospitalization and IV fluids.

Acute Antibiotic therapy

Antibiotics targeting the causative bacteria are the mainstay; depending on symptoms, additional medication, hospitalization, or a change of drug may be needed.
Chronic Treatment focused on preserving function

A full return to normal is nearly impossible, so treatment aims to halt the lesion's progress and preserve kidney function.

Goldman's Key Points in Pyelonephritis Treatment

Check

Because early treatment matters, we run a separate Fast Track
so you can receive same-day testing and treatment.
Check

Drawing on extensive clinical experience across urological conditions,
we treat the underlying cause and maintain a low recurrence rate.
Check

Beyond diagnosis and treatment, we provide aftercare tailored to each patient
so the condition does not recur after treatment.

What is a renal cyst?

A renal cyst is a fluid-filled sac that develops in the kidney, mainly due to aging; if it grows large, it can cause reduced kidney function or pain.

Causes of Renal Cysts

Renal cysts form when fluid collects in kidney tissue, mainly with aging; the exact cause is unknown.

Symptoms of Renal Cysts

Most renal cysts cause no symptoms, but larger ones can cause flank pain, discomfort, or pressure.

Flank and back pain
Severe pain with bleeding
Digestive discomfort
Palpable mass and tenderness

Diagnosis of Renal Cysts

Diagnosis confirms the size and location by abdominal ultrasound or CT.

Kidney Ultrasound

An imaging test that non-invasively identifies structural abnormalities of the kidney, used for early diagnosis and for assessing how far the condition has progressed.
Computed Tomography (CT)

A detailed X-ray imaging test that captures cross-sections of the kidney and surrounding tissue, used to diagnose kidney stones, tumors, and more.

Renal Cyst Treatment

A symptom-free renal cyst is monitored; if symptoms or complications develop, it is drained or removed surgically.

Percutaneous Cyst Drainage

A non-surgical treatment in which a long needle is guided by ultrasound to remove the fluid inside the kidney cyst, after which a sclerosing agent is injected to eliminate the cyst.
Laparoscopic Surgery

If the cyst is large or symptoms such as pain or bleeding are severe, laparoscopic surgery is used to remove the renal cyst completely.
Open Surgery and Treatment When Cancer Is Suspected

If a CT scan raises suspicion of kidney cancer or bleeding, open surgery is performed to carry out a radical nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy and remove the lesion.

Goldman's Key Points in Renal Cyst Treatment

Check

Detailed testing rules out the possibility of complications such as cancer early on
and ensures safe treatment.
Check

Rather than simply removing the cyst, we use a treatment approach that minimizes recurrence,
which is why our recurrence rate is low.
Check

Even after treatment, follow-up care tailored to each patient's characteristics and lifestyle
protects your long-term kidney health.

Resolve your kidney disease questions right now.

Goldman's know-how gives clear answers to patients' questions.

The main ones are pyelonephritis (kidney infection), kidney stones, chronic kidney failure, and renal cysts.
Blocked or abnormal urine flow reduces kidney function and can lead to chronic disease over time.
Drink enough water, prevent infection, get tested early when urinary problems appear, and have regular health screenings.
Hospitalization is needed if fever or abdominal pain is severe, if dehydration is severe, or if medication brings no improvement within 2–3 days.