Kidney issues are becoming one of the most disturbing health issues in Nigeria today. Apart from the fact that these kidney-related diseases can be very painful for the patients, they can also be very deadly. With these kidney-related diseases on the rise today, it is essential to take a look at the core kidney disease treatments and how much they cost in Nigeria.

Kidney dialysis is the general method used in treating kidney diseases. Kidney Dialysis is a treatment that does some of the things done by healthy kidneys. The process is usually needed when your own kidneys can no longer take care of your body’s needs. This post takes a look at the prices of Kidney dialysis in Nigeria today.

Cost of Dialysis in Nigeria

Kidney dialysis has become common in Nigeria in recent times. With kidney issues becoming a growing concern, it is easy to see why a lot of kidney disease patients now enrol for this treatment.

Many health institutions now offer this procedure. It can be quite difficult to determine the exact amount Kidney dialysis go for. On the average, Kidney dialysis in Nigeria costs between N20, 000 – N30, 000 per session which equates to anything between N80, 000 – N120, 000 per week depending on the number of sessions per week and an average of N340, 000 – N400, 000 per month.

There are several factors that contribute to how much kidney dialysis goes for in Nigeria. One of the core factors is the hospital or clinic. Different clinics charge different amounts for dialysis. Private hospitals usually charge the most. Some private hospitals even charge over N50, 000 per session which could equate to way over the estimated amount ad highlighted above. The variation in prices can also be attributed to location. For instance, you can expect to dialysis to be way more expensive in some parts of Lagos and Abuja than some other parts of the country.

Who Needs Dialysis?

If a patient’s kidney disease becomes very severe and crosses a point where there’s not enough function to stabilize the body, then the patient needs either a transplant or dialysis. Dialysis typically starts when the patients have symptoms or lab tests indicate toxic levels of waste in the blood.

There are various types and symptoms that accompany kidney failure. Some of these symptoms include nausea, fatigue, swelling, and constant throwing up.

The period the patient should start dialysis depends on some factors which include the age of the patient, energy level, overall health, lab test results which indicates the extent of the damage and how patient’s willingness to commit to a treatment plan.

Although dialysis makes patients feel much better and live longer, it requires a lot of your time. Doctors usually advice patients on the period they should start the treatment and most often, also advice on which type of dialysis the patient requires and how often.

How Dialysis Works

There are different types of dialysis although they are all intended for the same function. During hemodialysis, the patient is required to sit or lie back in a chair. A technician working with the doctor will place two needles in the patient’s arm where the fistula or graft is situated.

A force in the dialysis machine gradually draws out the blood of the patient, and then sends it through another the dialyzer. This functions like a kidney and sieves out extra salt, waste, and fluid. The cleaned blood is then sent back into the patient’s body through the other needle in the arm. If a catheter is used, blood pumps out of one and a cleansed blood flows into the body through the other.

Hemodialysis can be done in various medical centers. They can be done in the hospitals, various dialysis centres and can even be done at home. Each session, regardless of where patient is taking it, lasts between 3 to 5 hours and are usually require for up to three times a week, depending on the criticality of the kidney disease.

It should be noted that if this treatment is done at home, it might be done uo to 6 to 7 days a week, depending on how serious the kidney issue is. Having this process at home is usually more convenient for patients as they can easily relax, watch movies and watch their favourite channels during the process. The process also makes patients feel much better and night and enjoy good sleep.

What patients Should Expect During Dialysis

This is one of the core questions patients have asked over the years. The process of kidney dialysis doesn’t necessarily hurt. It is essential to notify your doctor if you feel any pain during the process. Some patients have complained about some possible side effects of the process in recent times though.

Low blood pressure is one side effect of the process. Other possible side effects include nausea, dry skin that could be itchy, vomiting, cramps in muscles and/or fatigue.

These side effects can be drastically reduced by watching what you eat. Patients should be particularly careful about what they feed on as this has a large effect on how the body will respond to the treatment process.

Patients should contact their doctors to advise on the amount of fluid they take, as well as protein and salt intake quantity. It is also important for patients to stay away from what could harm the kidney, especially alcohol and smoking.