Mesoamerican Nephropathy Emerges as Cross-Border Kidney Crisis Among Young Latino Migrants in U.S.
Mesoamerican nephropathy, a form of chronic kidney disease, is increasingly affecting young Latino migrants in the United States who previously worked in Central American agriculture. This illness, whose precise cause is still under investigation, is prevalent along the Pacific coast of Central America, from Costa Rica to Guatemala. Experts suggest a combination of factors, including exposure to agrochemicals, prolonged heat stress from hard labor in hot climates, and inadequate hydration. The disease often begins in adolescence, with symptoms appearing later, frequently when these workers are in the U.S. seeking medical attention. Many affected individuals, unable to afford expensive U.S. healthcare, return to their home countries, where public health systems are overwhelmed and private care is largely inaccessible. El Salvador, for instance, reports high mortality rates from this condition, with official figures potentially underestimating the true scale due to limited access to healthcare and tracking o... 
