Clinical profile of ascites in children at tertiary care hospital, North Karnataka

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.

Assessment of the Management of Ascites in Pediatrics in Jafar Ibn Auf Pediatrics Hospital: A Descriptive Retrospective Study

“…Females have around 20 ml of abdominal fluid, which may indicate that females are more likely to have ascites than males [9]. The majority of the affected patients in the study were found to be males, similar to the findings of a previous study where the maximum number of the affected patients were males [10].…”

Neonatal Haemorrhagic Ascites: A Rare Case Report

“…There are various theories that have been proposed for the formation of ascites [10], which include the following:…”

Study Comparing Diagnostic Value of Serum Ascitic Albumin Gradient and Ascitic Fluid Total Protein Concentration in Separating Exudative and Transudative Causes of Ascites in Children

“…In a study conducted at Nijalinagappa Medical College, 13 Bagalkot, on 102 children over a period of 18 months, nephrotic syndrome contributed 32.35% followed by abdominal tuberculosis 8.80% and chronic liver diseases about 8.80%.…”