What it means
In kidney care, ARF is the older name for acute kidney injury (AKI), a sudden loss of kidney function. In lung care it is acute respiratory failure, when breathing cannot keep oxygen and carbon dioxide at safe levels. In children it can mean acute rheumatic fever after a strep throat infection. Read it in context and ask if unsure.
Related terms
chronic kidney disease
Kidney damage or reduced kidney function that lasts longer than three months.
renal
Relating to the kidneys.
hypoxemia
A level of oxygen in the blood below normal.