Which department should I go to for edema

If it is edema, you should choose the department for examination according to the cause of your illness. This is only a symptom of the disease, not a separate disease. Many disease precursors will have edema, so you must pay attention to it. After all, this is most likely a symptom caused by your kidney disease. Then you need to observe whether you have other symptoms.

1. Physical examination

Orthopnea, enlarged heart, distended jugular veins, congestion and enlargement of the liver and spleen indicate cardiogenic edema. Splenomegaly, distended abdominal wall veins, portal hypertension and edema indicate cirrhosis. Dull expression, sparse hair and rough skin may indicate hypothyroidism, i.e. myxedema. In addition, patients with liver disease and kidney disease have different facial features and skin pigmentation. In addition to a detailed systemic examination, physical examination of patients with edema should also pay attention to the local manifestations of edema. Such as the distribution of edema, the finger pressure characteristics of edema, the manifestation of the location of edema, the development speed of edema, the severity of edema, etc.

2. Laboratory examination

The diagnosis can be aided by tests such as serum biochemistry, urine examination and renal function test, blood cell count and hemoglobin determination, radioisotope detection, pathogen detection, X-ray examination, ultrasound examination, angiography, diagnostic puncture, and standing and supine water test.

1. Cardiac edema

Heart failure can cause edema. The degree of edema varies with the degree of failure, and can develop from the ankles to the whole body. Severe edema may occur in the upper limbs, chest, and face in addition to the lower limbs, and even effusion may be seen in the chest cavity, abdominal cavity, and pericardium. Clinically, a history of heart disease, symptoms and signs of heart failure, obvious lower limb edema after activity, and disappearance of edema with correction of heart failure are all helpful in the diagnosis of cardiac edema.

2. Nephrotic edema

Edema caused by kidney disease can occur suddenly and spread throughout the body, sometimes limited to the eyelids. There are hematuria, proteinuria, tubular urine, decreased renal function, hypertension, etc. Nephrotic syndrome often presents with systemic edema, which is more pronounced on the eyelids and face. The edema of chronic nephritis is generally systemic, and may be mild or severe depending on the course of the disease, and sometimes limited to the eyelids.

3. Hepatic edema

The onset is relatively slow and sometimes spreads throughout the body, but ascites and lower limb edema are the most obvious. In severe cases, the face becomes yellow and thin, while the abdomen becomes swollen and the lower limbs become edematous, forming a clear contrast. Clinically, there may be liver damage, decreased plasma albumin, increased globulin, jaundice, splenomegaly, and barium meal examination may reveal esophageal varices.

4. Nutritional Deficiency

It is generally systemic edema, which occurs slowly and may become progressive if not corrected. There is a history of long-term malnutrition, especially protein deficiency, which may disappear after nutrition improves.