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In a shocking news, medical community has identified a mysterious kidney disease that is affecting healthy, young people in Hyderabad and surrounding Telangana districts, according to research findings. Let’s dig deeper…

Hyderabad, with its surrounding Telangana districts, has witnessed an alarming rise of an unidentified kidney disease, which affects healthy young adults, with no prior medical history. The medical condition known as Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) results in severe kidney deterioration among patients who have no background of diabetes or high blood pressure. The research conducted by Osmania General Hospital (OGH) and Apollo Hospitals’ senior nephrologists, has uncovered the unusual pattern of kidney disease which affects urban residents. Unlike CKDu cases reported from rural farming regions, this urban variant appears to involve different risk factors requiring urgent public health attention.

What is CKDu, and how it has spread to Hyderabad
The medical condition known as Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology (CKDu), occurs when doctors cannot determine the disease , after eliminating diabetes and high blood pressure as possible causes. The medical community first identified CKDu in agricultural workers, who faced heat, toxic substances and dehydration, but the condition now affects non-farming urban residents at increasing rates. The OGH study analysed 75 patients to identify a distinct CKDu pattern in Hyderabad, which primarily affects young adults who work in small businesses and service industries, without any farming experience. The discovery contradicts previous medical understanding that CKDu develops exclusively from farming activities and heat exposure.
CKDu progresses without noticeable symptoms, until patients develop permanent kidney damage through an extended period. Medical intervention during CKDu diagnosis usually happens when patients need either dialysis or kidney transplantation, because their disease has reached an irreversible stage. Kidney biopsies conducted on Hyderabad patients showed widespread scarring and inflammation in the filtration units (glomeruli) of the kidney, confirming severe and late-stage injury.


Possible causes behind the urban CKDu surge
The researchers at Hyderabad identified multiple potential factors which could lead to CKDu development. The possible causes of CKDu include heavy metals, pesticides and water contaminants that might exist in the environment. The study shows that heat, stress and dehydration do not seem to play a major role in this case, because only 21.3% of patients worked in farming. The main factor contributing to urban CKDu cases seems to be the long use of unregulated herbal, and traditional medications. The study showed that 40% of Hyderabad patients used unregulated medical products. The presence of nephrotoxic substances or contaminants in these medications, might lead to faster kidney deterioration.


The combination of dietary patterns, environmental pollution and possible infectious agents, might play a role in the development of this condition. Scientists need additional research to discover which toxic substances and behaviors exist specifically in urban environments. The research indicates that CKDu develops through multiple factors, which work together to create the disease, rather than having a single underlying cause.

The Socioeconomic impact: Youth at risk
The recent CKDu outbreak in Hyderabad targets young working adults between 20 and 40 years old, who are normally free from chronic diseases. This group comprises small business owners, service workers, and urban residents whose livelihoods are threatened by sudden kidney failure. The disease causes loss of productivity and immense healthcare costs, burdening families and communities.

The need for dialysis or kidney transplantation as treatment for kidney failure becomes a financial burden for most patients, because these procedures are expensive, and require ongoing care. The urban CKDu outbreak creates a major public health emergency, which also triggers an immediate need for intervention to prevent further economic damage.

Distinctions from rural and global CKDu patterns
Most worldwide CKDu cases have originated from agricultural workers in Central America, Sri Lanka and specific regions of India who face heat-related dehydration, and agrochemical exposure. The OGH study demonstrates that Hyderabad patients with CKDu do not share any connection to farming activities, or agricultural work. The urban CKDu patient group presents a distinct new disease pattern. The patients with CKDu in Hyderabad, show different occupations and risk factors, which suggest multiple environmental and lifestyle elements that affect city residents. The distinct characteristics between urban and rural populations require specific prevention and treatment approaches, instead of using rural-based models.

Silent progression and urgency for early detection
The kidneys can experience substantial damage before patients start showing symptoms, which usually appear when the condition reaches an advanced stage. Patients usually develop symptoms including swelling, fatigue and changes in their urine patterns during the late stages of the disease, which results in delayed medical diagnosis.

The delayed onset of symptoms forces patients to receive emergency medical care through dialysis or transplantation procedures. The OGH nephrologists support scheduled kidney screening tests for urban youth living in cities, because these tests help identify CKDu at early stages and prevent disease progression. The combination of public education about CKDu and improved access to kidney function tests, enables doctors to detect the disease before it reaches fatal stages.

Public health challenges and recommendations
Combating this emerging urban kidney disease involves multiple efforts. Public health authorities should prioritise surveillance of CKDu cases in Hyderabad, and similar urban centers. Regulation and quality control of herbal and alternative medicines need strengthening to reduce associated kidney risks.

Community education campaigns can help individuals avoid risky self-medication and recognise early symptoms. Regular health checkups emphasising kidney health screening in young adults, can lead to timely intervention. Research into specific environmental pollutants and lifestyle factors unique to urban CKDu, will aid in developing targeted preventive measures. To sum it up, a broader systemic action involving policymakers and healthcare providers, is essential to curb its spread and impact.