Symptom Finder - Edema
Edema
The first thing to do is distinguish pitting edema from nonpitting edema. Nonpitting edema should prompt a search for focal or generalized
lymphadenopathy and hypothyroidism. For hypothyroidism, the physician looks for thickening of the nails and hair and carotinemia (orange hue to the skin). Lymphedema is usually confined to the legs in filariasis and Milroy disease.
With pitting edema, it is necessary to look for signs of congestive heart failure (hepatomegaly, jugular venous distension, and crepitant rales at the right base), cirrhosis (hepatomegaly, ascites, spider angiomata, caput medusae, splenomegaly, and jaundice), and nephrosis (periorbital and
facial edema, albuminuria). Locally, look for varicose veins and thrombophlebitis. In females, exclude a pelvic mass. Remember to look
for presacral edema in patients who are bedridden (e.g., nursing home patients).
The first thing to do is distinguish pitting edema from nonpitting edema. Nonpitting edema should prompt a search for focal or generalized
lymphadenopathy and hypothyroidism. For hypothyroidism, the physician looks for thickening of the nails and hair and carotinemia (orange hue to the skin). Lymphedema is usually confined to the legs in filariasis and Milroy disease.
With pitting edema, it is necessary to look for signs of congestive heart failure (hepatomegaly, jugular venous distension, and crepitant rales at the right base), cirrhosis (hepatomegaly, ascites, spider angiomata, caput medusae, splenomegaly, and jaundice), and nephrosis (periorbital and
facial edema, albuminuria). Locally, look for varicose veins and thrombophlebitis. In females, exclude a pelvic mass. Remember to look
for presacral edema in patients who are bedridden (e.g., nursing home patients).
