Chronic kidney disease is medical condition characterized by gradual loss of kidney function over months to year. Since the process occurs slowly over months to years, often the patients have minimal to no symptoms in early stages. There are various signs and symptoms attributable to loss of kidney function e.g. fatigue, nocturia, swelling over feet, anorexia, etc. None of these are diagnostic of CKD and few patients even present at end stage with little symptoms, if any. A symptom is something the patient feels and reports, while a sign is something other people, including a doctor or a nurse may detect. For example, pain may be a symptom while a rash may be a sign.

Chronic kidney failure, as opposed to acute kidney failure, is a slow and gradually progressive disease. Even if one kidney stops functioning, the other can carry out normal functions. It is not usually until the disease is fairly well advanced and the condition has become severe that signs and symptoms are noticeable; by which time most of the damage is irreversible.

It is important that people who are at high risk of developing kidney disease have their kidney functions regularly checked. Early detection can significantly help prevent serious kidney damage.