Growth failure is a common complication in children with CKD. CKD is when the kidneys have become damaged over time (for at least 3 months) and have trouble functioning. It can increase the risk of other health problems like heart disease and stroke. CKD develops usually very slowly with very few symptoms, as such, CKD is divided in five stages to help guide treatment decisions.

CKD can be caused by many other conditions. Some examples include malnutrition, mineral and bone disorders, metabolic acidosis, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, growth hormone resistance, and delayed puberty.

Some of the symptoms include fatigue, problems with concentration, trouble sleeping, restless leg syndrome, generally feeling unwell, fever, and loss of appetite. Children are usually not in pain, unless they have an infection in the kidneys or another organ.

CKD is challenging to diagnose early as in the early stages it does not cause visible symptoms. When symptoms do appear, they are non-specific. The symptoms of growth failure in children with CKD are slowed growth and shorter height, so growth charts are used for diagnostic purposes.