Abstract
Introduction: Ascites is a common clinical problem in children with liver and renal disease. The peripheral arterial vasodilation hypothesis is mostly accepted as the patho-physiological basis of ascites. The most important complication is spontaneous ascitic fluid infection in the form of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and its variants. Objective: To know the incidence, etiology, associated clinical co-morbidities & the outcome (morbidity & mortality) of the hospitalized children with ascites. Materials and Methods: After informed written consent from parents/ guardian, 102 children admitted with ascites irrespective of primary diagnosis were studied at department of Pediatrics, S. Nijalingappa Medical College, Bagalkot. The study was a prospective study and subjects were enrolled consecutively. Detailed history, complete physical examination & routine investigations were done in all patients and were recorded in predesigned proforma. A detailed etiological workup was done. Results: The most common symptoms were abdominal distension (100%), facial puffiness (62.74%), pedal edema (46.08%), & generalized swelling (35.29 %). The most common signs were facial puffiness in 62.74%, pedal edema in 46.07% & anasarca in 35.29% the most common etiology of ascites was dengue fever, followed by nephrotic syndrome. Of the 102 children with ascites, 2 expired (Gaucher’s disease & Wilson’s disease). Conclusion: Prompt and early diagnosis and appropriate management of ascites is warranted to prevent related morbidity and mortality in children.
Highlights
Ascites is a common clinical problem in children with liver and renal disease
A total of 102 confirmed cases of ascites in children were studied during this study period
The most common symptoms were abdominal distension (100%), facial puffiness (62.74%), pedal edema (46.08%), & generalized swelling (35.29 %) (Table-I)
Summary
Ascites is a common clinical problem in children with liver and renal disease. Objective: To know the incidence, etiology, associated clinical co-morbidities & the outcome (morbidity & mortality) of the hospitalized children with ascites. The most common signs were facial puffiness in 62.74%, pedal edema in 46.07% & anasarca in 35.29% the most common etiology of ascites was dengue fever, followed by nephrotic syndrome. The term Ascites refers to the detectable and pathological collection of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. The word describes pathologic fluid accumulation within the peritoneal cavity. The etiology of ascites may differ among neonates and older children. In children it is usually the result of liver, cardiac or renal
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