QUESTION: This poor guy at the club has to have three pairs of pants, since he keeps developing fluid in his belly, and needs larger and larger pants. When the doctors take the fluid out, he can get back into small pants.
What causes fluid in the abdomen?
ANSWER: Ascites, or the presence of fluid in the abdominal cavity, is a telltale sign of disease and its exact cause must be identified before appropriate treatment measures can be taken.
The accumulation of fluid can result from a variety of conditions, though nearly 75% of the cases seen are related to cirrhosis of the liver.
Cancer and cardiac failure can also cause the condition, as can tuberculosis, and pancreatic and kidney disease. Normally, the abdominal cavity contains less than 50 ml of fluid, so large amounts of fluid can be easily detected when a patient's abdomen becomes tense and distended.
The patient may also experience abdominal pain and fever.
However, the clinical situation does not always lend itself to easy diagnosis, and due to the potential seriousness of the condition, it is necessary to analyze the fluid so that proper treatment can be started. Paracentesis, a technique used to withdraw fluid from the abdominal cavity, is the current diagnostic approach, and with recent advances in ascitic fluid analysis, it is now possible to tell which disease is causing the fluid to build up.
Such advances have made diagnosis and management of ascites easier than it has ever been in the past.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
