Swelling (medical)

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In medical terms, swelling , turgescence or tumefaction is a temporary abnormal enlargement of body parts or areas not caused by cell proliferation. This is caused by the accumulation of fluid in the tissues. This can occur throughout the body (general), or certain parts or organs may be affected (localized). Swelling is usually harmless and is a common reaction to inflammation or bruising.

Swelling is considered to be one of five characteristics of inflammation; along with pain, heat, redness, and loss of function.

In a general sense, the suffix "-megaly" is used to denote growth, as in hepatomegaly, acromegaly, and splenomegaly.

Body parts may swell in response to injury, infection, or disease. Swelling, especially on the ankle, can occur if the body does not circulate properly. If water retention develops to the level of symptoms, the results swell.

Generalized swelling, or massive edema (also called anasarca), is a common sign in people with severe pain. Although mild edema may be difficult to detect in untrained eyes, especially in overweight people, massive edema is very clear.

Video Swelling (medical)

Type of swelling

Traumatic swelling develops immediately after trauma, such as hematoma or dislocation.

Congenital swelling is present at birth, such as hemangioma or meningocele. Some congenital swelling may not be discovered until later in life, such as branchial cysts, dermoid cysts or thyroglocal cysts.

Inflammatory swelling can be acute or chronic. Presentation of acute swelling is redness, local fever, pain and impaired function of the affected organs. The associated lymph nodes will be affected and will show signs of acute lymphadenitis. Swelling of chronic inflammation will show signs of acute inflammatory swelling, but in weak form. In this case, edema may not occur. Chronic swelling can be distinguished from neoplastic swelling by the fact that neoplastic swelling never subsides in size, but inflammatory swelling can show an occasional reduction.

Maps Swelling (medical)

Cause

Common causes of swelling:

Some possible causes of swollen limbs include:

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Treatment

While it may be for mild swelling to go alone, several things can be done to relieve symptoms or speed up the process. It is important that swelling be treated quickly because it occurs at the fastest rate immediately after the event. The first aid method of RICE for rest, ice, compression, and elevation that protects the affected area has long been taught as a short-term solution. The application of oxygen is known to help reduce swelling.

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See also

• Edema
• Carpometacarpal superiors
• Tumescence

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References

Source of the article : Wikipedia