What is edema?

4 May 2021

It refers to an inflammation caused by fluid retention that accumulates in the body tissues. It can appear in any area, although its appearance is more frequent in the hands, arms, legs, ankles, and feet. Women have a greater tendency to develop edema than men, mainly due to a hormonal predisposition, although it can also be due to the consumption of drugs, as a result of pregnancy, or conditions such as kidney, liver, or heart failure.

It is usually treated with diuretics, which are medications to remove fluid from the body through the urine, in addition to following a low-sodium diet; but when edema is a symptom of an underlying pathology, it should be treated along with it.

Edema is divided by its extent and location.

By its extent:

Focused.
General.

By its location:

Ascites.
Cardiogenic.
Pericardial.
Hydrocephalic.
Hydrothorax.
Lymphedema.
Cutaneous.
Pulmonary.
Periorbital.

Causes:

The main reasons for edema are:

High sodium diet.
Damage to the lymphatic system.
Protein deficiency.
Pregnancy.
Kidney ailments.
Sedentary lifestyle.
Certain drugs.
Heart failure.
Venous insufficiency.
Liver problems

Signs and symptoms Edema

Abdominal swelling.
Fovea (when pressing the skin, the sinking persists minutes after removing the fingers).
Cold or heat sensation in the affected area.
Painful swelling in the area.
Stretching of the skin with a shiny appearance that generates itching and burning.
Heavy limbs.

In case of pulmonary edema, shortness of breath and severe chest pain may occur, which is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.

Potential risks:

An edema that is not treated in time can cause:

Abundant scar tissue.
Trouble walking.
Increased inflammation and pain.
Skin tightening with burning, redness, and itching.
Possible infections.
Circulatory numbness due to atrophy of veins and arteries.
Muscle and joint stiffness.
Skin ulcers

Diagnosis and treatment Edema

After analyzing your symptoms, medical history, and performing a physical examination, your doctor will order a series of tests to corroborate the diagnosis and find out the causes of the edema, including urine and blood tests, X-rays, ultrasounds, and MRIs.

The treatment to be followed will be established according to the direct cause of the edema, but mostly you will be prescribed diuretics combined with some other drugs, depending on your particular case.

In Saludora Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Edema

Internal Medicine
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

intramed.net
cun.es
mayoclinic.org
medlinesplus.gov
msdmanuals.com
medigraphic.com
Hernández RJ, Redondo PLR. Generalities of the treatment of diabetic macular edema and the use of statins. Rev Cuba Endoc. 2020;31(2):1-20.
Gómez HCM, Pérez HR, Román MOM. Linfedema crónico escrotal. Mediciego. 2018;24(4):39-43.
Blum-Gilbert N, Córdova-Quintal P, Lecuona-Huet N, et al. Amputación electiva en linfedema invalidante. Rev Mex Angiol. 2017;45(1):39-41.
Reséndiz OMT, Matadamas RLS, Revilla RE. Edema pulmonar de presión negativa y hemorragia pulmonar, reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura. Med Crit. 2009;23(1):47-51.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the Saludora Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is edema?

Signs and symptoms Edema

Diagnosis and treatment Edema

Related centers and departments Edema

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Edema