h fluid, or if the lymphatic system is congested, then the fluid will remain in the tissues, causing swellings in legs, ankles, feet, abdomen or any other part of the body.
|+||Mild: Both feet / ankles|
|++||Moderate: Both feet,|
plus lower legs,
hands or lower arms
bilateral pitting edema,
including both feet,
legs, arms and face
Edema may be described as pitting edema, or non-pitting edema.Pitting edema is when, after pressure is applied to a small area, the indentation persists after the release of the pressure. Peripheral pitting edema, as shown in the illustration, is the more common type, resulting from water retention. It can be caused by systemic diseases, pregnancy in some women, either directly or as a result of heart failure, or local conditions such as varicose veins, thrombophlebitis, insect bites, and dermatitis.
Non-pitting edema is observed when the indentation does not persist. It is associated with such conditions as lymphedema, lipedema, and myxedema.
Edema caused by malnutrition defines kwashiorkor, an acute form of childhood protein-energy malnutrition characterized by edema, irritability, anorexia, ulcerating dermatoses, and an enlarged liver with fatty infiltrates.
When possible, treatment involves resolving the underlying cause. Many cases of heart or kidney disease are treated with diuretics.
Treatment may also involve positioning the affected body parts to improve drainage. For example, swelling in feet or ankles may be reduced by having the person lie down in bed or sit with the feet propped up on cushions. Intermittent pneumatic compression can be used to pressurize tissue in a limb, forcing fluids—both blood and lymph—to flow out of the compressed area.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Causes and signs of edema. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279409/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 "Edema - Cardiovascular Disorders". https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/cardiovascular-disorders/symptoms-of-cardiovascular-disorders/edema.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Edema: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment". https://familydoctor.org/condition/edema/?adfree=true.
- ↑ Liddell, Henry. "οἴδ-ημα". A Greek-English Lexicon. Tufts. https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Doi%29%2Fdhma.
- ↑ C.Michael Hogan (2008) "Western poison-oak: Toxicodendron diversilobum" , GlobalTwitcher, ed. Nicklas Strömberg
- ↑ Renkin EM (1994). "Cellular aspects of transvascular exchange: a 40-year perspective". Microcirculation 1 (3): 157–67. doi:10.3109/10739689409148270. PMID 8790586.
- ↑ "Water, water, everywhere. Acute parvovirus B19 infection". Lancet 381 (9868): 776. 2013. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61894-7. PMID 23472922.
- ↑ "Pathogenesis of edema formation in the nephrotic syndrome". Kidney Int. Suppl. 59: S21–7. 1997. PMID 9185099.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Casu, Gavino; Merella, Pierluigi (July 2015). "Diuretic Therapy in Heart Failure – Current Approaches". European Cardiology Review 10 (1): 42–47. doi:10.15420/ecr.2015.10.01.42. ISSN 1758-3756. PMID 30310422.
- ↑ "Edema - Symptoms and causes" (in en). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/edema/symptoms-causes/syc-20366493.
- ↑ "Edema - Symptoms and causes" (in en). https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/edema/symptoms-causes/syc-20366493.
- ↑ "Kwashiorkor: Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis" (in en). 15 August 2012. https://www.healthline.com/health/kwashiorkor#:~:text=Kwashiorkor%2C%20also%20known%20as%20%E2%80%9Cedematous,of%20protein%20in%20the%20diet..
- ↑ Meisenberg, Gerhard; Simmons, William H. (2006). Principles of Medical Biochemistry (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 258. ISBN 978-0-32302-942-1. https://archive.org/details/principlesofmedi0000meis/page/258.
- ↑ Heine, R. Phillips; Swamy, Geeta K.. "Lower-Extremity Edema During Late Pregnancy". The Merck Manual. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec18/ch259/ch259e.html.
- ↑ Timby, Barbara Kuhn; Smith, Nancy E. (2006). Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing (9th ed.). Philadelphia: