Like all other organs in the human body, the kidneys must be checked at all times in order to determine if there are any causes for concern. So naturally, many of us might wonder what a normal kidney size is, and what it means for our health.
Medically reviewed by Mike Kenneth Go Doratan, MD · General Surgery · The Medical City Ortigas
Like all other organs in the human body, the kidneys must be checked at all times in order to determine if there are any causes for concern. So naturally, many of us might wonder what a normal kidney size is, and what it means for our health.
The average adult kidney size is around 10 to 12 cm which is roughly smaller than a clenched fist. But kidney size differs with age. To be more specific, refer to the bullet points below for the normal kidney size based on age group:
A shrinkage of a kidney is called kidney atrophy. Kidney atrophy happens for two main reasons:
Kidney atrophy also happens due to blockage and chronic infections. This shrinkage can lead to health issues such as kidney disease. And the more it decreases in size, the more severe the effects would be to the kidney. If both kidneys happen to shrink then that will lead to kidney failure.
Furthermore, small kidneys typically indicate an irreversible damage from a disease. In the Philippines, kidney shrinkage is commonly secondary to hypertension and diabetes, as well as long-standing kidney disease.
A kidney that swells up is called hydronephrosis. This happens when there is a build-up of urine in the kidney. The urine is not drained out from the kidney due to blockage, and this can happen to both kidneys.
Hydronephrosis happens for various reasons such as:
Large kidneys are likewise commonly seen in disease such as diabetes (during early stages of diabetic nephropathy), multiple myeloma and polycystic kidney disease.
In order to know if your kidney size is normal or not, you must go and see a doctor and have your kidneys checked via ultrasound or x-ray. The doctor will then measure and tell you if it is normal or not.
After the doctor determines that your kidneys indeed decreased or increased in size, they might then perform further tests to check what caused this and proceed on suggesting appropriate intervention.
If a person gets diagnosed with kidney disease or kidney failure, they can develop complications such as:
Learn more about Kidney Disease here.
Disclaimer
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
People Are Also Reading This
Comments
Share your thoughts
Be the first to let Hello Doctor know your thoughts!
Join Us or Log In to join the discussion