As you know, most babies (people) have two kidneys when they are born unless they have abnormal conditions. There are some that affect the process of how the kidneys develop with aging. Perhaps, you only hear about the kidneys, normal kidneys.
But there is also another term that maybe you are not aware of. This term is ectopic kidney or kidneys. It is a kidney that is located below or above the normal position of the urinary tract. Usually, when a person is healthy and he does not has any health problem. Then the kidneys will be near the ribcage and on the side of the spine.
According to the nephrologist in Multan, ectopic kidneys do not cause health problems because they do not show any symptoms and people don’t have any idea they have ectopic kidneys. It is usually difficult to find these kidneys without any test or ultrasound.
When there is a fetal ultrasound it will help to diagnose ectopic kidneys. This ultrasound is a special ultrasound to take a look at how the baby is developing in the womb of the mother. Sometimes, doctors also recommend this to diagnose the reason for abdominal pain or causes of urinary tract infections.
Most people have only one ectopic kidney; it is very rare that a person will develop both ectopic kidneys. The kidneys of the baby tend to develop as buds in the womb of the mother in the lower abdomen. When there are eight weeks of growth of the baby in the womb the kidneys move from the pelvis to the normal position near the ribcage.
However, when ectopic kidneys develop during the growth in the womb the kidneys stay near the bladder.
Causes of Ectopic Kidneys
When the fetus is developing in the womb then there are chances that an ectopic kidney will develop; therefore, it is a birth defect. In this regard, medical researchers are not sure what really causes most birth defects, including ectopic kidneys. However, the possible reasons for ectopic kidneys will be:
- If there is poor development of kidney bud then there is a risk of ectopic kidney
- Problems with the tissues that contribute to the healthy development of kidneys in the baby
- Genetic defects can also be the cause of this problem as they can also cause genetic disorders
- Illnesses and other infections can also contribute to this problem during the development of the fetus
Are Ectopic Kidneys Common?
It is not possible to know whether ectopic kidneys are common among people or not because ectopic kidneys don’t show any symptoms. Therefore, the data about people with ectopic kidneys are not available due to the lack of symptoms.
However, there can be some suggested figures for the patients with ectopic kidneys. But it is estimated that one person from almost one thousand people is with ectopic kidneys.
Are There Any Symptoms of Ectopic Kidneys?
As mentioned previously repeatedly, people with ectopic kidneys do not show any symptoms. However, there are chances that some complications may also occur due to ectopic kidneys:
- There can be a pain in the abdomen or in the back
- Burning sensations while urinating anytime throughout the day
- There can be frequent urination or urgency of urination
- Mild to moderate fever
- Frequent blood in the urine which is also known as bloody urine
- Maybe a feeling of a lump in the abdomen
- A rise in the blood pressure
Do Ectopic Kidneys Cause any Complications?
Ectopic kidneys can cause several complications. The most common complication among these problems is the drainage of urine from the kidney. This issue in the terms of medicine is known as vesicoureteral reflux.
In return, this problem can cause the following symptoms:
Infections
The body is responsible for terminating bacteria through the urine and also inhibits the growth of bacteria in the kidney as well as the urinary tract. When the kidneys are unable to perform basic and normal functions, there are chances that the urine gets trapped in the ureter.
When some urine remains in the body some bacteria remain to tend to grow and spread in the body. Therefore, this condition may lead to back as well as abdominal pain. In addition, this condition may also lead to a foul smell of urine. If there are infections or other problems associated with different infections then a doctor will need to recommend an ultrasound to diagnose and take a look at ectopic kidneys.
Formation of Stones
There may be a formation of calcium stones in the kidneys due to ectopic kidneys. It is because the urine remains for a long time in the urinary tract and leads to this problem. The formation of stones in the kidneys may also lead to severe pain and also can also pain on both sides of the body.
In addition, vomiting, as well as burning sensations can also be caused due to these problems.