[Skip to Content]
</ iframe > </noscript> <!-- End Google Tag Manager (noscript) --><div id="header"> <div id="CClogo"><a href="https://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></div> <div id="CCsearch"> <form id="searchform" name="searchform" method="GET" onsubmit="return (this.q.value == '') ? false : true;" action="/CookChildrens/en/parents/"> <input type="hidden" name="search" value="y"/> <input type="hidden" name="getfields" value="description"/> <input type="search" class="search" name="q" id="q" maxlength="256" autocomplete="off" autocorrect="off" placeholder="Search"/> <input type="hidden" name="datasource" value="cookchildrens"> <input type="hidden" name="start" value="0"> <input type="hidden" name="rows" value="10"> <input type="hidden" name="lang" value="english"> <input type="hidden" name="section" value="parents_teens_kids"> <input type="submit" value="" id="searchButton" class="buttonImage"/> </form> </div> </div> <!-- If we have main navigation separated then it will reside here --> <div id="thelou" tabindex="-1"> </div> <div id="mainContentContainer" class="kh-article-page"> <div id="rsSearchBrowse"> <div id="rsBrowse" role="navigation"> </div> <div id="rsSearch"> <div id="rsSectionLabel">teens</div> </div> </div> <div id="khContentHeading" class="ar licH"> <h1>Dialysis</h1> </div> <div class="clearBox"> </div> <div id="khcontent"> <div id="xp1"> </div><br clear="all" style="width: 0; height: 0; line-height: 0; font-size: 0;"><div id="khcontent_article" lang="en-us"> <div id="NavigatePage1"> <div id="whichRead_1"><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!-- The following article is brought to you by CookChildrens. --></span><div class="rs_skip rs_skip_en rsbtn_kidshealth rs_preserve" id="readspeaker_button1"><script> var theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); var rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); var whichReadPage = 1; var doesItGotFlash = ''; makeTheRSLinkEN(); var readSpeakerDownloadLink = "//app-na.readspeaker.com/cgi-bin/rsent?customerid=5202&lang=en_us&voice=Kate&speed=100&readid=khcontent_article&url="+theRSURL+"&audiofilename=KidsHealth_"+rsAudioTitle+""; </script></div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="languagePairLink" class="rs_skip"><a href="/CookChildrens/es/teens/kidney-dialysis.html"><span class="pairedURLHead" lang="es">en español<img src="/images/n00/icons/langPairArrow.svg" alt=""></span><span class="pairedURLBody" lang="es">Diálisis</span></a></div> <!--googleon:all--><div class="rte-image"><!--<sly data-sly-test.buttonBorder="khb-noborder"></sly> --><h3>What Is Dialysis?</h3><p>Dialysis (dye-AL-ih-sis) is a medical treatment that can take over the job of cleaning the blood when the <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/kidneys.html">kidneys</a> can't.</p><h3>Why Do People Need Dialysis?</h3><p>The kidneys are fist-sized organs shaped like kidney beans. Their main job is to clean the <a href="/CookChildrens/en/parents/blood.html">blood</a>. They take out extra water and waste (things the body doesn't need). These leave the body as pee (urine).</p><p>If the kidneys don't work as they should, waste quickly builds up in the body and makes a person sick. When the kidneys stop removing enough waste and extra water from the blood, the person has <strong>kidney failure</strong>. Then, the person needs dialysis to clean the blood because the kidneys can't.</p><h3>Does Dialysis Cure Kidney Failure?</h3><p>Dialysis does the work of the kidneys to clean the blood, but it doesn't fix or cure kidney failure.</p><p>Some kids with sudden or acute kidney failure need dialysis for a short time until the kidneys get better. But if chronic kidney disease turns into kidney failure, the child's kidneys will not get better. These kids need dialysis for life, unless they get a <a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/kidney-transplant.html">kidney transplant</a>.</p><h3>What Are the Types of Dialysis?</h3><p>There are two types of dialysis:</p><ol><li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/hemodialysis.html"><strong>Hemodialysis</strong></a> (hee-moh-dye-AL-ih-sis): An artificial filter cleans the blood outside of the body. It's usually done in a special clinic called a dialysis center.</li><li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/peritoneal-dialysis.html"><strong>Peritoneal dialysis</strong></a> (pair-eh-tih-NEEL dye-AL-ih-sis): This uses the lining of the belly as a filter. Often, it can be done at home.</li></ol><p>Both types of dialysis clean the blood, but in different ways. People who need dialysis work with their care team to decide on the best method.</p><h3>Looking Ahead</h3><p>Except for special diets and the time needed for treatments, people getting dialysis usually live normal lives. Most of the time, they can go to school, take part in most sports and activities, go to prom, or just go out with friends as they usually would. Dialysis can be inconvenient, but it doesn't have to slow you down.</p></div> <div id="reviewerBox"> <div id="reviewedBy">Medically reviewed by: Joshua J. Zaritsky, MD, PhD</div> <div id="reviewedDate">Date reviewed: January 2020</div> </div><span class="ISI_MESSAGE"><!--Thank you for listening to this KidsHealth audio cast. The information you heard, is for educational purposes only. If you need medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment, consult your doctor. This audio cast is Copyrighted by KidsHealth. All rights are reserved.--></span></div> </div> </div> </div> <!--googleoff:all--> <div id="relatedBoxParents" class="t1 "> <div id="navTabs"> <ul id="navTabsPKT" role="tablist" aria-labelledby="moreOnThisTopicHeader"> <li role="presentation" class="current" id="PKTtabTeens"><button class="PKTJSTButton" role="tab" id="teens_tab" aria-controls="relatedArticlesListTeens" aria-selected="true" tabindex="0"><span>for Teens</span></button></li> </ul> </div> <div id="mainBar"> </div> <div id="mrLinks"> <h2 id="moreOnThisTopicHeader">MORE ON THIS TOPIC</h2> <ul id="relatedArticlesListTeens" role="tabpanel" aria-labelledby="teens_tab"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/hemodialysis.html">Hemodialysis</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/peritoneal-dialysis.html">Peritoneal Dialysis</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/kidneys.html">Kidneys and Urinary Tract</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/kidney-transplant.html">Kidney Transplant</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/kidney.html">Kidney Disease</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/glomerulonephritis.html">Glomerulonephritis</a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="boxBreaker"> </div> <div id="zeroTester"> </div> <div id="relatedButtonsHolder"> <div id="relatedButtonsBoth"> <ul> <li id="relatedPrinterButton"><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/kidney-dialysis.html?view=ptr" rel="nofollow" onclick="printWindow(this.href); return false;" title="This link will open in a new window.">Print<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> <li id="relatedEmailFriendButton"><a rel="nofollow" href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/kidney-dialysis.html?view=emailto" target="_blank" title="This link will open in a new window.">Send to a Friend<span class="newWindowIcon_leftSpace"> </span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div><br clear="all"></div><br clear="all"><script>window.onload=setVars('');PKTChoose(0,0,6,0);</script><div id="kh_lic_footer"> <nav aria-label="Content info"> <ul id="kh_lic_footer_links"> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/editorial-policy-licensee.html">Editorial Policy</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/policy-licensees.html">KidsHealth Privacy Policy & Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="/CookChildrens/en/teens/copyright.html">Copyright</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div id="kh_lic_footer_legalease"> <p><img lang="en" alt="A TeensHealth Education Partner" src="/images/n00/logos/THeduPartner3.svg"> Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. </p> <p>© 1995-<script>document.write(KHcopyDate);</script> The Nemours Foundation. KidsHealth® is a registered trademark of The Nemours Foundation. All rights reserved.</p> <div class="imageDisclaimer"> <p> Images sourced by The Nemours Foundation and Getty Images. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer"> <p><a href="http://www.cookchildrens.org"><span class="srText">Cook Children's</span></a></p> <p>Copyright <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"> document.write(KHcopyDate) </script> by <nobr>Cook Children's Health Care System</nobr>, <nobr>Fort Worth, Texas</nobr></p> </div> <script src="/misc/javascript/n00/nitro-main.js"></script><script src="/misc/javascript/n00/n00_art.js"></script><script src="/misc/javascript/kh_footJS_common.js"> </script><script src="/misc/javascript/kh_footJS_desktop.js"> </script><script> var kidsHealthSearchHandler = "/CookChildrens/en/teens/"; // KidsHealth custom search handler var kidsHealthLicID = "403"; </script><script> function downloadJSAtOnload(deferredScriptPath) { var element = document.createElement('script'); element.src = deferredScriptPath; document.body.appendChild(element); } if (window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', downloadJSAtOnload('/misc/javascript/kh_deferredJS.js'), false); } else if (window.attachEvent) { window.attachEvent('onload', downloadJSAtOnload('/misc/javascript/kh_deferredJS.js'), false); } else { window.onload = downloadJSAtOnload('/misc/javascript/kh_deferredJS.js'); } </script><script> textSizer('1'); </script><script> // Define variables for ReadSpeaker theRSURL = (escape(document.location.href)); rsAudioTitle = document.title.replace(/ |\'|\?/g,"_"); RSLanguage="en_us";</script><script src="//f1-na.readspeaker.com/script/5202/ReadSpeaker.js?pids=embhl"> </script><div id="ariaAnnouncements" aria-live="polite" tabindex="-1" style="visibility: hidden; width: 1px; height: 1px;"> </div> <!--googleon:all--></body></html>