What is Ascites?
Symptoms
If the quantity of fluid is less than 100 to 400ml, mild ascites might have no symptoms at all. With the increase in the quantity of fluid, the following symptoms may be observed:
- Increased abdominal girth
- Increased abdominal size
- Bloating
- Shortness of breath
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal discomfort
- Disfiguring large belly
Causes
The exact mechanism of the development of ascites is not yet fully understood. However, the main causes are:
- Portal hypertension – Increased blood pressure in liver
- Increase in portal blood pressure
- Decrease in albumin content of the blood
- Salt retention in blood
- Water retention in blood
- Congestive heart failure
- Advanced kidney failure
- Tumors in abdominal cavity
- Blood clots in portal vessel
- Cancers like malignant ascites, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, stomach cancer, breast cancer, lymphoma, lung cancer or ovarian cancer.
- Chronic inflammation of pancreas
- Alcohol abuse
- Trauma to pancreas
Risks
The risk factors of Ascites are:
- Diets with low protein content
- Excessive consumption of alcohol
- Hepatitis
- Cardiac diseases
- Cirrhosis
- Chronic liver diseases
- Portal hypertension
Prevention
Ascites can be prevented with the following precautionary methods:
- Reduced consumption of alcohol and tobacco
- Maintaining a healthy body weight
- Limiting the intake of salt in the diet
- Practicing safe sex to avoid hepatitis
- Avoiding recreational drugs that could cause hepatitis
How is it diagnosed?
At Sumitra hospital, our experts use several means of diagnosing Ascites, including
- Ultrasound
- Physical exam
- CT scan
- Paracentesis
- Blood count check
- Medical history check
