What dialysis is for

Your kidneys filter out waste products from your blood. The waste products pass out of your body in your pee (urine).

If your kidneys do not work properly, these waste products can build up in your body and make you very ill.

You may need dialysis if your kidneys are no longer able to filter your blood because they're damaged.

Damage to the kidneys can be caused by:

a sudden injury or illness (acute kidney injury) – you may need dialysis until your kidneys recover
chronic kidney disease – you will need dialysis for the rest of your life, or until you have a kidney transplant

Alternatives to dialysis

You may be unable to, or do not want to, have dialysis.

If this is the case, then there are treatments to help relieve symptoms and reduce some of the risks of kidney disease if you do not have dialysis.

For example, medicines can treat symptoms such as itchy skin, help control your blood pressure and prevent infections.