Swelling

Definition

Swelling involves the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body structures. It is caused by excessive buildup of fluid in the tissues. This buildup can lead to a rapid increase in weight over a short period of time (days to weeks).

Swelling can occur throughout the body (generalized) or it may be limited to a specific part of the body (localized).

See also:

• Ankle, feet, and leg swelling
• Angioedema
• Swollen gums
• Swollen glands
• Facial swelling
• Swelling in the abdomen
• Breast enlargement
• Scrotal swelling
• Joint swelling

Alternative Names

Considerations

Slight edema of the lower legs commonly occurs in warm summer months, especially if a person has been standing or walking a lot.

Generalized swelling, or massive edema (also called anasarca), is a common sign in severely ill people. Although slight edema may be difficult to detect, especially in an overweight person, massive edema is very obvious. Edema can indicate a chronic and progressive medical illness.

Edema may be generally described in one of two ways:

• Pitting edema -- When you press a finger against a swollen area for 5 seconds and then quickly remove it, an indentation is left that fills slowly.
• Nonpitting edema -- When you press a finger against a swollen area for 5 seconds and then quickly remove it, no indentation is left in the skin.

Causes

• Too much salt or sodium intake
• Burns
• Sunburn
• Too little albumin in the blood (hypoalbuminemia)
• Malnutrition
• Pregnancy
• Drugs
  • Androgenic and anabolic steroids
  • Antihypertensives
  • Corticosteroids such as prednisone (causes sodium retention)
  • Estrogens
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (see NSAIDs)
  • Calcium channel blockers
• Nephrotic syndrome
• Acute glomerulonephritis
• Chronic kidney disease
• Heart failure
• Liver failure from cirrhosis
• Thyroid disease