Q: My niece is 21 years old and suffering from kidney failure. She is undergoing dialysis every alternate day, with strict diet control for the past two months. She has been advised to undergo kidney transplant. Since it is very difficult to find a suitable donor, how long can she be put on dialysis, without developing any side effects or complications? If at all she develops any complications, what would they be and how serious can they get?

A:At age 21, kidney transplant should be the treatment of choice for your niece - quicker the better. Long term haemodialysis always carries the risk of hepatitis B and C and outcomes of kidney transplant charges if one of these infections is acquired as well as the longer the patient is one dialysis. So I would recommend to hasten the process of looking for a blood group, compatible donor in the family- parents, uncles aunts 18-60 years of age can donate.