Everything You Need to Know About the Scary Kidney Condition Actress Sarah Hyland Suffers From

Looking at the young and vibrant actress, people wouldn’t think that she’s actually battling a serious illness.

But Modern Family actress Sarah Hyland has been suffering from kidney dysplasia for the majority of her life.

Recently, the 28-year-old star has opened up about her experience with the kidney disease sharing how she felt suicidal after the many operations that she had to get to deal with it.

Fortunately, she has since gotten a new perspective about her illness and has learned to value her health and the family who supports her.

Find out more about this scary kidney condition.

Hyland has often shared her experiences on her Instagram and has recently gone on the record with Self magazine to shed more light about her illness.

The Scary Condition

Kidney dysplasia is a condition wherein a fetus’ kidneys fail to develop properly while still in the womb. It can happen to one or both of the kidneys.

Normally, a fetus will grow thin tubes called ureters which main function is to collect urine. But these vital parts fail to grow in cases of those who suffer from kidney dysplasia leading to the forming of cysts resulting from the building up of urine.

Babies who are born with dysplasia in one kidney tend to survive infancy to live a relatively normal life. But they most likely have to undergo occasional dialysis treatments and have a kidney transplant later on in life.

On the other hand, babies with dysplasia in both kidneys usually die at infancy.

Luckily, Hyland is one of the lucky ones to be part of the former group. She received her first kidney transplant from her father when she was just 21 years old. Her body, later on, rejected the transplant causing her to get another one in 2017.

According to medical experts, the condition is caused by genetic factors usually from a parent who passed on a defective or mutated gene to their offspring.

Can It Be Treated?

Dialysis is a treatment which helps people whose kidneys don’t function well to filter their blood of toxins and excess water.

Some people are lucky not to need treatment for kidney dysplasia if they do not show symptoms of kidney malfunction. However, they are still recommended to undergo regular checkups and blood tests to make sure that everything is functioning well.

Meanwhile, those whose kidney has been compromised over time may need a kidney transplant. This is usually determined by ultrasound and if the damaged kidney is causing physical pain and a rise in blood pressure of the sufferer.

Dialysis is also a common treatment used in managing kidney dysplasia in people who have other urinary problems.

How Do I Know If I Have it?

Ultrasound can also be used to diagnose a newborn baby of kidney dysplasia in case it was left undetected during pregnancy.

The good news is that the condition can be diagnosed early on while the child is still in their mother’s womb via ultrasound. The routine procedure is adequate enough to see whether a fetus’ kidneys or urinary tract have any defects.

Still, there are cases when kidney dysplasia goes undetected until it’s discovered during treatment for other urinary tract issues that a child may have later on life.