Nephrology in Johannesburg

Nephrology is a branch of medicine that deals with the kidneys, specifically normal kidney function, the preservation of kidney health, kidney disease, and the treatment of kidney disease. A physician who specializes in the care and treatment of kidney disease is called a nephrologist. 

Some of the most common conditions nephrologist treat are as follows:

• Advanced or chronic kidney disease
• Tubulointerstitial kidney diseases
• Tubular defects
• Glomerular conditions, such as nephrotic syndrome and glomerulonephritis
• Kidney infections
• Kidney vascular conditions
• Kidney neoplasms
• High blood pressure
• Structural or functional abnormalities of the kidney, urine collection system, or bladder
• Vasculitis
• Electrolyte, fluid, and acid-base imbalances or disturbances
• Autoimmune conditions that involve the kidneys

Nephrologists can perform a wide range of tests, procedures, and treatments. These include:

• Blood tests, including serum creatinine, glomerular filtration rate, and blood urea nitrogen.
• Urine tests, including urinalysis, 24-hour urine test, creatinine clearance, and microalbuminuria.
• Imaging tests of the kidneys, such as CT scans, ultrasounds, or X-rays.
• Dialysis, including placement of the dialysis catheter.
• Kidney biopsy.
• Kidney transplants.

How Long Should I Stay in Johannesburg?

After laboratory tests (blood and urine tests) and imaging tests, you should be able to leave the hospital right away, while with biopsy, you may need to stay overnight. However, you may need to stay in Johannesburg for a few more days to wait for the results. Once the results are ready, your nephrologist will explain them during a follow-up appointment. After kidney transplants, you usually need to stay in the hospital for 5 to 10 days and stay for 7 to 14 more days in Johannesburg. During your stay, ensure to attend all of the scheduled follow-up checkups with your nephrologist. 

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery time depends on the type of procedure you underwent. For laboratory and imaging tests, you should be able to resume your normal daily activities immediately, though your nephrologist may advise you to rest for the remainder of the day. After a biopsy, avoid strenuous activity for 2 to 3 days. Since a kidney transplant is a major surgery, the recovery time until you can return to work and other normal activities may take around 8 weeks.

What Aftercare is Required?

Your nephrologist will give you aftercare instructions that you will need to follow and you will also need to make healthy lifestyle changes to maintain the health of your kidney after treatment. You will need to attend regular checkups to check how well your new kidney is working and also will be taking medication for the rest of your life, including drugs called immunosuppressant’s to help keep your immune system from rejecting and attacking your new kidney.

What's the Success Rate?

As the field of nephrology continues to advance, the outcomes of tests and treatments are constantly improving. This means that patients now have more chances to be diagnosed early and receive successful treatments. The success rate for nephrology procedures is proven to be generally high. For example, 93% of kidney transplants are working at the end of the 1st year. However, every procedure always comes with risks, such as infection, excessive bleeding, and damage to other organs.  

Are there Alternatives?

There is no alternative to seeing a nephrologist if you have kidney problems. If your condition is found to be caused by problems in other organs, your nephrologist may work with or refer you to the relevant specialist.

Nephrology in and around Johannesburg

About Johannesburg

Johannesburg is the most populous as well as the largest city in South Africa. There is a lot to see and do in Johannesburg. Home to the Apartheid Museum, it is the perfect place for anyone who loves history and wants to learn more about the country’s past. There are also MOAD and MuseuMAfriCA that exhibit the city’s art and history. Other than the museums, the metropolitan city has a number of other things to do, such as enjoying Gold Reef City, shopping in its many markets, and visiting The Cradle of Human Kind.

Today, people have found a new reason to visit Johannesburg: medical tourism. Although it is not as widely known as other medical tourism destinations in other parts of the world, the city has seen a steady rise in medical tourists. The urban city features public and private medical centers with the highest standards, well-trained medical practitioners, and cutting-edge technology. Most of the medical centers have English speaking doctors, nurses, and staff, so there is no language barrier for foreign medical tourists. Plastic surgery, particularly tummy tuck, is one of the more popular procedures since it is much cheaper here than in Western countries.

Popular Areas in Johannesburg

While Johannesburg is not a popular tourist destination, there are a number of things to see and do in the city. The city is mostly known as Nelson Mandela’s home and has an array of astonishing museums. Those who love history and want to learn about the country’s struggle will enjoy the Apartheid Museum. It exhibits the story of apartheid through photographs, film footage, clippings, newspaper, and artifacts. Mandela House in Soweto Street is also worth a visit. It was once Nelson Mandela’s home. The museum showcases photographs, paintings, as well as awards and recognitions earned by Nelson Mandela. 

One of the most popular places is the Lion Park. The safari park offers an amazing chance to watch lions and several other animals up close. There are also other activities such as animal interactions and hand-feeding a few animals, such as ostriches and giraffes. Other than the Lion Park, Pilanesberg National Park is famous among wildlife enthusiast. The national park is filled with opulent ecosystem and wildlife. Tourists can experience a safari and spot lions, rhinos, elephants, leopards, zebras, and over 300 bird species in their natural habitat. 

Johannesburg is popular for its art and you must visit the Maboneng Precinct where you will find art-studios and shops selling art pieces. Wits Art Museum is another great place to admire African art. If you want to know more about the culture, Lesedi Cultural Village is the best place to go. Here, tourists can learn more about traditional South African culture and a chance to encounter people of Zulu, Pedi, Ndebele, Xhosa, and Basotho origin. Other places including SAB World of Beer, Gold Reef City, Holly Hill, Market Theatre, Constitution Hill, and Mary Fitzgerald Square are also a must-visit. 

Weather and Climate in Johannesburg

Johannesburg experiences a subtropical highland climate. The summer, which runs from October to April, is characterized by hot days with thundershowers in the afternoon and cool evenings. The temperature is mostly mild during the summer. January is one of the hottest months, with an average maximum daytime temperature of 25.6 °C. The summer has an extreme UV index, sometimes reaching as high as 14-16. Therefore, tourists must wear sun-protective clothing and apply sunscreen during the day to avoid sunburn.

In the winter, the city enjoys sunny days and cold nights. This season is dry, and the average maximum temperature is around 16 °C. In June and July, the temperature can drop to 4.1 °C and occasionally drops below freezing at night. The freezing temperature causes frost, but snow is rare. It is advisable to bring warm clothing during this season.

Getting Around in Johannesburg

International visitors usually arrive at O. R. Tambo International Airport, also known as Johannesburg International Airport. It is Africa’s busiest airport and the primary airport that serves domestic and international travel. The airport connects South Africa with various cities all over the world, including London, Abu Dhabi, Atlanta, Singapore, and Sydney. It is the hub for South Africa’s largest domestic and international airlines, South African Airways. Budget airlines such as FlySafair, Mango, and Kalula operate flights from this airport for an inexpensive travel option. 

Johannesburg has a vast public transport system. The Gautrain rapid-rail is safe and fairly easy to navigate. The rail also links the city center with O. R. Tambo International Airport. For efficient transport, tourists can opt for the Rea Vaya bus service that has a circular route through the city and is useful to explore the City Center at a reasonable cost. Many locals will use the minibus taxi network, but it can be pretty confusing for foreign tourists. Passengers need to know a route to their destination, hail the minibus taxi from the street, and once they have arrived at their desired destination, they need to make a hand signal to stop the minibus. 

Metered taxis are available but can be quite expensive. The taxis are mostly found outside hotels. Since there are only a few places to hail a taxi in the street, the best way to hail a taxi is by phone. Be careful because many taxis do not use meters so tourists would need to negotiate the price before getting in. The most reliable metered taxis are Orange Cabs, Quick Cab, and Zebra Cabs. Uber is also available for safer, quicker, and more affordable transport.

Tourist Visas in Johannesburg

All visitors who wish to enter South Africa must hold a passport valid for at least 30 days after the expiration of their intended visit and must have at least two unused pages. Passport holders of more than 60 countries can enter and stay for up to 90 days in the country without a visa. Other nationals not listed in the visa exemption agreement must obtain a visa to the nearest South Africa embassy or consulate. The South Africa Immigration Department also offers Medical Treatment Visa for medical tourists.

Additional Information

1. Local Currency: The local currency is the South African Rand (ZAR). 1 USD is equivalent to 14 ZAR.
2. Money & Payments: ATMs are available at every commercial center. Most hotels, restaurants, and shops accept credit cards (especially MasterCard and Visa). However, be sure to always carry some cash since there are several cases of credit card fraud. Tourists must tip car guards, but should not tip minibus taxi drivers. For bars and restaurants, 10% to 20% of the bill is acceptable.
3. Local Language: Most people will speak more than two languages, including Nguni, Sotho, English, Afrikaans, and Tshivenda.
4. Local Culture and Religion: More than 50% of the population follows Christianity and more than 20% are not affiliated with any religion. There are small groups of Muslim, Jewish, and Hindus. 
5. Public Holidays: There are around 12 official public holidays in the city such as Good Friday, Freedom Day, Heritage Day, and Christmas Day.