Rising Cases of Mysterious Kidney Disease Among Young Men Reported in Texas

Doctors in Texas are reporting a growing number of otherwise healthy young men diagnosed with chronic kidney disease of unknown origin (CKDu), a serious condition previously most commonly observed in Central America and parts of Asia.

What Is CKDu? CKDu — sometimes called Mesoamerican nephropathy — is a form of progressive kidney damage that occurs without the usual risk factors such as diabetes or long-standing high blood pressure. Patients often reach advanced, life-threatening stages of kidney failure before the condition is detected, according to a 2024 review in the journal Pathophysiology.

Doctors in Texas have reported an increase in young men with CKDu, or chronic kidney disease of unknown origin, according to a report (AFP via Getty Images)

Who Is Affected? Most reported cases involve Latino men between roughly 20 and 60 years old who perform intense manual labor, particularly in hot environments. Historically, outbreaks were documented among agricultural workers in Central America; similar patterns have been reported in Sri Lanka, India and Nepal.

Possible Causes Epidemiologists have not reached a consensus on a single cause. Multiple studies link CKDu to repeated heat stress and dehydration from prolonged heavy work in extreme heat. Other hypotheses include repeated use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), exposure to agrochemicals, contaminated water, and combined occupational and environmental stresses. Researchers emphasize that the disease likely has multifactorial causes and that more rigorous investigation is needed.

Health officials in Texas have reported an increase in CKDu cases, though it was not immediately clear how many recent cases there have been (AFP via Getty Images)

What’s Happening in Texas? Health practitioners in Houston and elsewhere in Texas have reported an uptick in young men presenting with advanced kidney failure and requiring emergency dialysis. A review of hospital records from 2012 to 2015 found that, among 346 cases of kidney failure in uninsured or undocumented patients, 17 had no identifiable cause—raising concern that CKDu may account for an appreciable share of emergency-dialysis visits.

"The population is so vulnerable and has such limited access to health services that screening for kidney disease is often not on the radar," epidemiologist Rebecca Fischer told Texas Monthly. "This is a disease of poverty affecting neglected communities."

Clinicians at Houston's Ben Taub Hospital reported seeing cases frequently and observed a rise in young men—many undocumented and originally from Central America or Mexico—presenting with sudden, severe kidney failure. As part of ongoing investigations, researchers have begun collecting detailed work and residential histories from affected patients; most match the CKDu profile of manual labor in hot settings and limited access to preventive care.

Implications and Next Steps Public health experts warn that if CKDu is present and under-recognized in the U.S., vulnerable worker populations may face rising illness and costly emergency care. Researchers call for targeted screening, workplace heat-protection measures, better access to primary care for immigrant and low-income workers, and coordinated studies to identify specific causes and prevention strategies.

Takeaway CKDu represents a potentially serious, under-recognized health threat among young manual laborers. While questions remain about exact causes, the pattern of cases in Texas has prompted calls for further research, improved surveillance, and stronger occupational protections to prevent heat-related and work-related kidney damage.