Kidney disease of unknown origin spreads in US. Who is at risk?

Doctors in Texas say they’re seeing more otherwise healthy young men arriving near organ failure, pointing to CKDu (chronic kidney disease of unknown origin). The condition, also known as Mesoamerican nephropathy, has been reported in Central America and identified in Sri Lanka. Researchers are now concerned about its growth in the U.S., particularly among agricultural workers and laborers. CKDu often occurs without classic risk factors such as hypertension or diabetes, with most reported cases involving Latino men aged 20 to 60 who work under extreme conditions. In areas where it’s endemic, CKDu can be devastating—El Salvador saw hospitalizations rise 50% from 2005 to 2012.