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Not Sure What You Need?
Answer one question and we will point you to the pages that explain your situation, then to the right kind of care.
Many people are not sure whether they need a general doctor, a physician, a kidney specialist, a lab test or a scan. That is normal. You do not need to decide alone.
What brought you here?
You said: I have a test result
Where to start
Start by understanding what the test measures. A single number rarely tells the whole story, so these pages explain what each test shows and what a doctor usually looks at next.
Read these first
Ready to find care?
When you are ready, we can help you find a doctor or kidney service to review your result.
Find kidney careYou said: I have symptoms
Where to start
Many symptoms linked to the kidneys, such as swelling or changes in urine, have several possible causes. These pages explain the common ones and when to see a doctor.
When to get medical help urgently
Go to the nearest hospital emergency department or call 999 / 112 if you are passing very little or no urine, have severe breathlessness, chest pain or confusion, have severe swelling with breathlessness, or see blood in your urine with fever or severe pain.
Read these first
Ready to find care?
A general doctor is usually the right first stop for new symptoms. We can help you find one.
Find kidney careYou said: I have diabetes
Where to start
Diabetes is one of the most common reasons kidneys are checked. Regular urine and blood tests can pick up changes early, often before you feel anything.
Read these first
Ready to find care?
We can help you find a service for kidney checks linked to diabetes.
Find kidney careYou said: I have high blood pressure
Where to start
High blood pressure, which many people call presha, and the kidneys affect each other. These pages explain how, and which checks are usually done.
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Ready to find care?
We can help you find a service for blood pressure and kidney checks.
Find kidney careYou said: I've been told I have CKD
Where to start
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is described by stage, using two tests together: eGFR from a blood test and urine ACR. These pages explain the stages and what follow-up usually involves.
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You said: My doctor recommended a kidney specialist
Where to start
A kidney specialist is called a nephrologist. These pages explain when a referral is usual, what happens at the first visit and how to prepare.
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Who does what: GP, physician, nephrologist, lab and scan
In Mombasa, most people start with a general doctor at a clinic or a hospital outpatient department. Tests are often done at a lab, and the results are then taken back to a doctor to be explained.
| Who or what | What they do | When people usually go |
|---|---|---|
| General practitioner (GP) or medical officer | A doctor who sees all kinds of health problems. Can examine you, request blood and urine tests, explain results and refer you on. | New symptoms, a first abnormal result, routine checks, or when you are not sure where to go. |
| Internal medicine physician | A specialist doctor for adult medical conditions that affect several parts of the body, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Often looks after early kidney problems too. | Ongoing conditions that need closer management, or when a GP refers you. |
| Nephrologist | A physician with further training in kidney disease. Looks after chronic kidney disease (CKD), kidney function that is falling, protein in the urine that needs investigation, and dialysis and transplant care. | Usually after a referral, when test results or symptoms suggest a kidney problem that needs a specialist. |
| Laboratory testing | Runs blood tests (such as creatinine and eGFR) and urine tests (such as urinalysis and urine ACR). The lab reports results; it does not diagnose. | When a clinician requests tests. Take the results back to a doctor to discuss them. |
| Kidney ultrasound | A painless scan using sound waves that shows the size and shape of the kidneys and checks for blockage, cysts or stones. Done in an imaging department and reported by a radiologist. | When a doctor wants to look at the structure of the kidneys, usually alongside blood and urine tests. |
If you are still unsure, choose "I'm not sure" on our enquiry form and we will help you work out a sensible first step. You can also browse everything in the Kidney Health Library.
If you feel very unwell
This page is for planning care, not for emergencies. If you have very little or no urine, severe breathlessness, chest pain, confusion, or severe swelling with breathlessness, go to the nearest hospital emergency department or call 999 / 112.