Renal failure may be of acute(short term) or chronic(long term) origin Short term may be due to acute infection,dehydration,drug reaction poisoning and usually recoverable. Chronic renal failure is due to chronic diseases like hypertension,diabetes,chronic infection, chronic obstruction,long term analgesic, drug intake, intake of nephrotoxic drugs and  many more renal or extra renal diseases. Treatment of the basic disease causing renal failure is  basic management of renal failure. Dialysis and other supportive treatment is required  to lesson the harmful affects of renal failure and thus prolong life . It all depends on severity of the disease and harmful effects caused by disease and renal failure.