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Illustration of edema

Oedema

Oedema (swelling) is the enlargement of organs, skin or other body parts. It is caused by a build-up of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a rapid increase in weight over a short period of time (days to weeks).

About Oedema


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Oedema can occur throughout the body (generalised) or only in a specific part of the body (localised). Slight oedema of the lower legs commonly occurs in warm summer months, especially if a person has been standing or walking a lot.

Generalised swelling, or gross oedema (also called anasarca), is a common sign in severely ill people. Although slight oedema may be difficult to detect, especially in an overweight person, gross oedema is very obvious.

 

Reference: MedlinePlus. MedlinePlus, a service of the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health

 

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