Comparative analysis of renal failure definitions across government health resources

Renal failure, or commonly referred to as kidney failure, is a condition in which the kidneys do not sufficiently filter out the toxins and waste products that are transported in the body's blood stream. There are two basic forms of renal failure. The first is when there is an acute injury prevents the kidneys from functioning properly. The next is a more serious condition in which the kidneys are chronically inflicted. Chronic kidney disease has the potential to be irreversible and requires immediate medical attention. Some of the symptoms of renal failure include (Lin, 2011):

Appetite loss

General ill feeling and fatigue

Headaches

Itching (pruritus) and dry skin

Nausea

Weight loss without trying to lose weight

Other symptoms that may develop, especially when kidney function has gotten worse, include:

Abnormally dark or light skin

Bone pain

Brain and nervous system symptoms:

Drowsiness and confusion

Problems concentrating or thinking

Numbness in the hands, feet, or other areas

Muscle twitching or cramps

Breath odor

Easy bruising, bleeding, or blood in the stool

Excessive thirst

Frequent hiccups

Low level of sexual interest and impotence

Menstrual periods stop (amenorrhea)

Shortness of breath

Sleep problems, such as insomnia, restless leg syndrome, and obstructive sleep apnea

Swelling of the feet and hands (edema)

Vomiting, typically in the morning

Google vs. Google Scholar

Google and Google scholar have significant varieties in the search results that they produce. Google generates more generalized information that is intended for a general audience. Nearly anyone can use Google to advance their knowledge on nearly any subject imaginable. Google scholar on the other hand generates articles from scientific databases that contain books and peer reviewed journal articles. This information isn't intended to be for the public audience and many people may find the information that this provides inaccessible. These are research articles that assume a great deal of knowledge of the subject and how peer reviewed articles are written. Furthermore, many articles that Google Scholar returns in searches only provide access to the abstract and therefore you either have to purchase the article or access it through a library system.

Comparison of Government Websites

Three sites were compared to see how the provided content to those interested in kidney issues.

National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP, 2011)

U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus, 2011)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women's Health (Womens Health, 2011)