What are the symptoms of ascites?
Ascites are usually accompanied by numerous symptoms. It is imperative to learn how to identify these symptoms to enhance early detection of the condition. You may experience the following symptoms if you have ascites:
- Painless swelling in the abdomen that worsens rather than goes away
- Weight gain
- Feeling full after eating a little
- Abdominal discomfort
- Shortness of breath as the pressure in the abdomen increases, the diaphragm pushes up and reduces the spaces necessary for the lungs to expand during respiration.
If your ascites is caused by bacterial peritonitis, you may experience the following symptoms:
- Confusion
- Fever
- Tenderness in the abdomen
You may also experience other symptoms that are specific to cancer, advanced cirrhosis [6], heart failure, or other underlying diseases.