Incidence of generalized oedema in random population attending the Moalejat and Modern Medicine OPD of Ajmal Khan Tibbiya College Hospital, Aligarh Muslim university, Aligarh, India

ABSTRACT

Oedema is defined as clinically apparent increase in the interstitial fluid volume which may expand by several liters before it becomes clinically apparent. Depending upon its cause and mechanism, oedema may be localized or generalized. In generalized form it is recognized by puffiness of face and by persistence of an indentation of the skin following pressure, which is known as pitting oedema. The patients may complain of fitting of ring on a finger snugly or difficulty on putting of shoes particularly towards evening. It has been our observation in the recent past that there is an appreciable increase in number of patients suffering from generalized swelling without any known cause. This prompted us to find out the cause of such a sudden rise in its incidence. The present study is a demographic study of 126 patients suffering from oedema due to different causes. In idiopathic type oedema, we have tried to discuss its possible causes