Chronic kidney disease of unknown origin (CKDu) is a global burden among the agricultural communities, this is a non-communicable disease (NCD) which is
asymptomatic and irreversible until latter stages of the disease. The disease has no common features unlike chronic kidney diseases (CKD’s) making early detection
impossible in the patients. The most recent form of CKDu was reported in India, known as the Indian CKDu in late 2010’s.
In Sri Lanka, CKDu is highly prevalent in the north central province of the country with nearly15.1%-22.9% presented with the disease. This region is a dry-zone in which
agricultural and farming activities are carried out as the main occupation. Several studies have been carried out linking CKDu to various factors such as heavy metals in
water, agrochemicals, heat, dehydration and socio-demographics in NCP. Despite several researches being conducted none of them were able to prove the root cause and
causative factors of the disease. Using the available articles online, studies from countries such as India, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka and South America were chosen in which heat
stress, dehydration, heavy metal involvement, agrochemicals were common causative factors reported in these geographical locations.
Several studies analyzed indicate that the affected CKDu population were part of the agricultural community in rural areas with less or no proper high school education and
family history with CKDu. Recent findings do suggest that a combination study involving socio-demographical data and geographical data will help to end the CKDu debate
worldwide and provide new insights into early diagnosis.
Chronic kidney disease of unknown aetiology in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka: trying to unravel the mystery
