Dropsy - Symptoms And Treatment Of Dropsy, Causes

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 17:49

Causes and symptoms of dropsy

This name belongs to several forms of the same symptom - the accumulation of fluid in the subcutaneous tissue, in the serous cavities, in the tissues of the brain. With dropsy, the balance between the inflow and outflow of tissue fluid and liquid blood substance is disturbed.

Content:

• Dropsy - what is this disease?
• The symptoms of dropsy
• Types of dropsy
• Causes of dropsy
• The consequences of dropsy
• Treatment methods
• Prevention of dropsy

Dropsy - what is this disease?

Edema (edema) is an excess accumulation of fluid in the subcutaneous fat, tissues or serous cavities of the body.

It would be wrong to say that dropsy is an independent disease. Most often, swelling of the tissues of the subcutaneous tissue is a symptom of the pathology of an organ. The most susceptible to edema are tissues with loose subcutaneous tissue. Puffiness occurs due to the fact that the transudate from the vessels leaves through their walls into the surrounding tissues, and reabsorption does not occur, or is extremely slow.

There are the following forms of dropsy:

• General dropsy - the body's water balance is disturbed (heart disease);
• Local dropsy - the balance of fluid in a separate organ or in a limited area of the body is disturbed due to compression of the veins (for example, ascites, swelling of the extremities).

Classification of edema with dropsy:

• Stagnant - occurs due to impaired capillary circulation, outflow of venous fluid (cirrhosis of the liver, heart failure, phlebothrombosis);
• Hypooncotic - arise from a violation of the concentration of proteins in the blood, its depletion in albumin (nephrosis);
• Membranogenic - occur due to a violation of capillary permeability (hypoxia, toxic damage to poisons, bacteria waste products, hyperthermia);
• Lymphatic - occur due to a violation of the outflow of lymph (hypoplasia of the lymph nodes, the reaction of the immune system to the oncological process)

The symptoms of dropsy

Under the pressure of the watery fluid in the subcutaneous tissue, the skin swells, resulting in an increase in the volume of certain parts of the sick person's body. In the area of edema, the skin may resemble dough. On palpation of the edematous tissues, the pits formed by light pressure remain on the skin for a long time after the cessation of exposure. Pallor and cooling of the skin is noted, which is associated with a violation of the blood supply to the tissues due to compression of the blood vessels by the edematous fluid. The dropsy is formed by a clear liquid, which contains very low concentration of protein.

Edema is a characteristic symptom of a wide variety of diseases and pathological conditions. It is an important diagnostic sign for doctors when examining patients suffering from general or local circulatory disorders, kidney diseases, and disorders of the water-salt metabolism regulation systems.

At the place of localization, dropsy is divided into local and general. Local edema is caused by a violation of the inflow and outflow of fluid in a particular area of tissue or in a specific organ, the cause of such dropsy in most cases is compression of the venous vessels. Blockage (compression) of the portal vein causes ascites, which is also called dropsy of the abdominal cavity, and poor circulation in the femoral vein causes swelling of the legs.

General dropsy leads to a violation of the water balance throughout the body, as can be judged by cardiac edema. The main reasons that lead to a change in the balance of fluid flow in limited areas are: an increase in fluid pressure in small vessels (capillaries), a decrease in plasma oncotic pressure, an increase in oncotic pressure of interstitial fluid, a decrease in pressure on tissues, high permeability of capillary vessels, violation of reverse flow plasma.

Considering the factor that becomes leading in the development of the pathological process, dropsy is subdivided into mechanical, hypooncotic, membranogenic and lymphatic. Mechanical, or congestive, edema occurs due to high hydrostatic pressure in small blood vessels and disruption of venous backflow caused by blockage or mechanical compression of the blood vessels. Such pressure can be exerted by a pregnant uterus and an enlarged liver. The clogged veins can be caused by phlebothrombosis.

With a decrease in the concentration of protein in the blood, hypooncotic edema may develop, while the protein content does not exceed 50 g / l. Of greatest importance in this case is the low content of albumin in the blood (below 25 g / l), since they are characterized by greater osmotic activity than globulins. The maximum drop in oncotic pressure and extensive edema accompany nephrotic syndrome.

An increase in the oncotic pressure of the interstitial fluid, accompanied by a change in the permeability of capillary membranes and sweating in the tissue of the filtrate saturated with protein, is an important factor in the formation of edema of any origin. Edema that occurs with acute nephritis, heart and respiratory failure is closely associated with increased membrane permeability. Toxins (snake venom, bacterial toxins, toxic substances, fever) can affect cell membranes.

Symptoms of dropsy of lymphatic origin occur when the reverse flow of lymph is disturbed, which causes the accumulation of fluid saturated with protein. Changes in lymph flow and associated edema accompany congenital hypoplasia of lymph nodes, their malignant transformation, nephrotic and hungry edema, and ascites.

Types of dropsy

There are several types of dropsy, characterized by the following clinical manifestations:

• Ascites, or dropsy of the abdominal cavity. With ascites, a large amount of serous or hemorrhagic transudate (free fluid) accumulates in the abdomen, from 8 to 30 liters. More often this amount is less in volume - from a liter and above. The skin of the abdomen with ascites is tense, smoothed, umbilical and femoral hernia are observed. The belly has a spherical shape, it protrudes forward or hangs down. A complication of ascites can be peritonitis due to rupture of the navel, swelling of the feet, prolapse of the rectum.
• Hydrocephalus, or dropsy of the brain. With hydrocephalus, there is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (cerebrospinal fluid) in the ventricles of the brain and under its membrane. Dropsy of the brain can be congenital or acquired. Children with hydrocephalus lag behind in development, all types of metabolism are impaired, there are many neurological disorders (paralysis, paresis, impaired tone and coordination of movements, vision, gait). For patients with hydrocephalus, an increase in the volume of the skull, an overhanging forehead, deep orbits of the eyes with half-closed eyelids are characteristic. High intracranial pressure causes headache, nausea, and vomiting.
• Hydrocele, or dropsy of the testicle. With dropsy of this type, fluid accumulates between the plates of the vaginal membrane of the testicle. Hydrocele can be congenital and acquired, acute or chronic. With dropsy, the testicle swells, pain appears, the skin is hyperemic. The chronic form of hydrocele is manifested by impaired urination, sexual intercourse, sperm production, organ atrophy.
• Dropsy of pregnant women. With this type of dropsy, an increase in body weight is diagnosed due to hidden and obvious edema of the legs, face, lumbosacral region, abdominal wall. A woman's blood pressure rises, changes in urine are observed.
• Hydrothorax, or chest dropsy. It occurs due to the accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity, often accompanies ascites. Breast dropsy is most often bilateral, the volume of fluid in each pleural cavity can reach several liters. The patient is diagnosed with shortness of breath and cyanosis of the skin.
• Hydrarthrosis, or dropsy of the joint. It occurs due to the accumulation of fluid in the cavities of 1-2 knee and ankle joints. The total volume of the joint increases.

Causes of dropsy

The cause of dropsy (accumulation of transudate, or aqueous humor) is a violation of the process of inflow and outflow of tissue fluid. Through the capillaries of the blood vessels, an exchange occurs between the fluid in the tissues of the body and the circulating blood. The exit of fluid through the vascular wall into the surrounding tissue is called "extravasation", this process is continuous. Edema is formed under the condition that a larger volume of fluid flows from the capillaries into the surrounding tissue than is absorbed as a result of the reverse outflow; in some cases, the reverse absorption may stop altogether.

Although dropsy is based on an imbalance in the circulation of blood exudate and tissue fluid, the etiological factors of the appearance of pathology are extremely diverse.

Causes of dropsy of various organs and systems:

• Hydrocele, or dropsy of the testicle - tumors, trauma to the epididymis and membranes of the scrotum, inflammation, complications of gonorrhea and tuberculosis;
• Dropsy of pregnant women - disorders of water-salt metabolism and capillary circulation due to altered neuroendocrine regulation of biochemical processes;
• Dropsy of the pericardium - complications of pathologies of the heart and kidneys, cancer, tuberculosis, myxidema, tumors of the mediastinum, massive X-ray irradiation of the heart;
• Thoracic dropsy - a tumor process in the mediastinum, diseases of the urinary system, dystrophy due to vitamin deficiency, impaired lymph outflow;
• Dropsy of the joint, or hydrarthrosis - trauma to the meniscus, manifestations of ankylosing spondylitis, allergic reaction in tuberculosis, complications of syphilis;
• Dropsy of the abdomen, or ascites - heart failure, dystrophy, kidney disease, tumors or tuberculosis of the peritoneum, portal vein thrombosis;
• Dropsy of the brain, or hydrocephalus - underdevelopment of the brain, spinal hernia, tumors and parasitic lesions of the brain, the consequences of neuroinfections (meningitis, encephalitis), traumatic brain injury.

The consequences of dropsy

The severity of the consequences of dropsy depends on the ability or inability to compensate for the disease that caused it. So, for example, with ascites, fluid accumulating in the abdominal cavity pushes the diaphragm upward. This, in turn, compresses the lungs and causes pulmonary failure. The blood supply to the myocardium and all human organs is disrupted. With impaired protein metabolism, protein deficiency develops.

Untimely treatment of hydrocele (dropsy of the testicle) disrupts the circulation of lymph and blood in it, leading to atrophy of this organ. The increase in temperature in the testicular area due to the accumulation of fluid makes the sperm unviable, which directly leads to infertility. Impaired hormone production radically changes the course of physiological processes in the body.

The consequence of hydrocephalus can be mental retardation of varying degrees, mental disorders, emotional disturbances, intellectual disability, general speech underdevelopment.

Treatment methods

Treatment of various forms of dropsy begins with the treatment of the underlying disease that caused the edema, symptomatic therapy for acute manifestations is carried out.

Treatment of acute hydrocele includes the use of antibiotics and analgesics, cold and heat treatments, and wearing a suspensor. The chronic form of dropsy of the testicle is treated with punctures of the accumulated fluid, the introduction of hydrocortisone. Surgical intervention is most often used, which excludes complications.

For the treatment of dropsy in pregnant women, nutritional optimization, limiting the intake of fluids and table salt, fasting days, and drug treatment are used.

When treating hydrothorax and pneumothorax, the emphasis is on treating the underlying disease. If the patient is diagnosed with dropsy of the joint, his puncture is performed to remove the intra-articular fluid.

Treatment of ascites depends on the severity of the underlying disease that caused it. Usually, the patient is prescribed diuretics, cardiac glycosides, oxygen therapy, and a salt-free diet is recommended. In difficult cases, surgery is used to remove fluid from the peritoneum.

Elimination of the manifestations of hydrocephalus can be both surgical and conservative.

To reduce intracranial pressure, use:

• General strengthening procedures;
• Coniferous salt baths;
• Medication for dehydration, prevention of inflammation, desensitization;
• Relief of mental disorders.

Surgical treatment aimed at creating an artificial pathway for the outflow of cerebrospinal fluid from the ventricles of the brain is more effective.

Supplementary methods for the treatment of all types of dropsy can be falcotherapy, hydrotherapy, compresses and wraps, the use of traditional medicine recipes.

Prevention of dropsy

The prevention of dropsy depends on its type and causes. Forms of prevention:

• Dropsy of pregnant women - regular monitoring of the woman's condition by the attending physician, proper nutrition, normalization of work and rest;
• Cardiac dropsy (hydropericardium) - treatment of the underlying disease;
• Pulmonary dropsy (hydrothorax) - similar prophylaxis;
• Ascites - elimination of circulatory disorders, timely treatment of the disease that caused the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity;
• Dropsy of the brain (hydrocephalus) - timely detection of pregnancy pathologies during screening, protection of the fetus from toxic damage, neuroinfections, prevention of craniocerebral trauma at any age;
• Dropsy of the testicle - protecting the scrotum from injury.

The variety of manifestations of dropsy depends on the symptoms of the disease that caused tissue edema. The treatment of dropsy, the choice of effective therapeutic or surgical methods takes into account the age of the patient, concomitant somatic disorders, contraindications.

Author of the article: Alekseeva Maria Yurievna | Therapist

Education: From 2010 to 2016 Practitioner of the therapeutic hospital of the central medical-sanitary unit No. 21, city of elektrostal. Since 2016 she has been working in the diagnostic center No. 3.