What can be done to prevent the condition?

Prevention depends on the cause. Avoiding certain medicines can prevent some cases. Drinking enough fluids can prevent cases due to dehydration. Effective treatment of diabetes and hypertension can prevent some cases due to kidney failure. Many cases cannot be prevented.

What are the long-term effects of the condition?

Long-term effects are related to the cause. Most cases of dehydration can be treated, and the amount of urine returns to normal. In these cases, there usually are no long-term effects.

A person who has kidney failure may need a kidney transplant or dialysis. Dialysis is a procedure to filter the blood. The person usually has surgery first and is then hooked up to a blood-filtering machine three times a week. In these cases, the decreased urination is usually permanent.

If the cause is a serious infection or cancer, death may result.

What are the risks to others?

Decreased urination is not catching, so there are no risks to others.