As the dry season approaches, nephrologists are warning of the dangers of severe dehydration, which can decrease blood flow to the kidneys and lead to acute kidney injury. They urge Nigerians to ensure they drink enough fluids.
According to the specialists, severe dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluids than it takes in, especially due to excessive heat, sweating, prolonged diarrhoea, vomiting, severe bleeding, infections, or complications during pregnancy and childbirth. While the body has mechanisms to conserve water, extreme or rapid fluid loss can overwhelm these systems and impair kidney function.
They advise Nigerians to “obey their thirst” by drinking water regularly, avoiding unnecessary medications, and seeking immediate medical care if they experience severe vomiting, heavy bleeding, excessive fluid loss, or diminished urine output.
In interviews, nephrologists emphasised that acute kidney injury can be reversible if detected and treated promptly, but delayed treatment may lead to serious complications, including the accumulation of toxins in the body, breathing difficulties, unconsciousness, or even death. Their warning comes as Nigeria experiences extreme heat driven by the El Niño weather pattern, which poses significant public health risks.
Professor Jacob Awobusuyi, a leading nephrologist and past President of the Nigerian Association of Nephrology, highlighted that severe dehydration can harm kidney function by reducing blood flow. He noted that the body continues to lose water through urine, sweat, and breathing, and that conditions such as cholera or significant blood loss from accidents can also cause acute kidney injury.
Awobusuyi pointed out that reduced urine output is an important sign of potential kidney problems. Impaired kidney function can result in a buildup of waste products in the body, affecting other organs. Symptoms can develop within three to four days if urine production ceases, but he cautioned that reduced urine output in hot weather may not necessarily indicate damage, as the body conserves water.
He recommends drinking about two to three litres of water daily for healthy adults and stresses the importance of rehydrating after physical activities. People should be wary of relying on sugary or carbonated drinks to satisfy their thirst.
Dr Zumnan Gimba, another consultant nephrologist, echoed these sentiments, noting that inadequate fluid intake can lead to kidney malfunction and acute kidney injury, especially during rapid or severe dehydration. He explained that while kidney damage can be reversible if treated early, chronic kidney disease often results in permanent damage.
Gimba highlighted that young children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to dehydration-related kidney problems. He urged everyone to take their thirst seriously, as it is a clear sign of the need for more water. He warned that rapid fluid loss could occur through persistent vomiting, diarrhoea, or extreme heat.
Pregnant women facing severe vomiting or complications during childbirth are also at risk, as are individuals suffering from burns or taking specific medications. Gimba advised Nigerians to maintain their fluid intake as temperatures rise, suggesting that adults aim for about three litres of fluid daily, mostly in the form of water, rather than sugary beverages. He emphasised the need to drink gradually throughout the day, even when not thirsty.
