Renal failure refers to the inability of the kidneys to filter the waste products from the blood. Renal failure may set in due to an internal injury or due to chronic kidney disease. While the former is treatable with the help of proper treatment, the latter is often irreversible. Renal failure is characterized by reduction or absence of urine production, leading to accumulation of waste products in the body which can be deadly.

The possible causes of acute renal failure are heavy blood loss due to an injury or an infection, dehydration, damage due to poisons, infections and some medicines, blockage like kidney stones, tumor, injury or an enlarged prostate. Older adults or individuals with health concerns like liver or kidney disease, obesity, heart failure or diabetes are at high risk of renal failure.