Abdominal swelling

Abdominal swelling means the belly is visibly enlarged or feels distended, and the causes span a very wide range of seriousness. The commonest are benign: trapped gas and bloating from the gut, constipation, and simply increased abdominal fat. More significant is a build-up of fluid within the abdominal cavity, called ascites, which produces progressive, painless swelling and a sense of tightness or heaviness. Ascites is an important sign because it often reflects serious underlying disease: advanced liver disease (cirrhosis) is a leading cause, as are heart failure (where fluid backs up throughout the body), kidney disease with low blood protein (nephrotic syndrome), and, less commonly, cancers involving the abdomen or ovaries. Other causes of a swollen abdomen include an enlarged organ (such as the liver or spleen), a large ovarian cyst or mass, and, in some cases, pregnancy. The pattern helps: bloating that comes and goes with meals and bowel habit is usually benign, whereas steady, progressive swelling — especially with leg swelling, breathlessness, jaundice, or weight change — points toward fluid and an underlying cause that needs assessment.

• Gas, bloating and constipation — the commonest, usually benign causes.
• Ascites from liver disease (cirrhosis) — a leading cause of significant fluid build-up.
• Heart failure — fluid backing up throughout the body, including the abdomen.
• Kidney disease with low blood protein (nephrotic syndrome).
• An ovarian cyst or mass, or other abdominal tumour.
• An enlarged organ (liver or spleen).
• Pregnancy.

Abdominal swelling is assessed with a history and examination that distinguish gas and bloating from fluid (ascites) or a mass, often with an ultrasound scan. Blood tests are directed by the suspected cause: liver function tests and albumin for liver disease, NT-proBNP and kidney function for heart and kidney causes, urine protein for nephrotic syndrome, and tumour markers with imaging when a mass is suspected. Where ascites is present, a sample of the fluid may be taken to find the cause. Mediora.AI can surface patterns such as a low albumin, abnormal liver tests or a raised NT-proBNP from your results that point toward a cause of fluid build-up, but new or progressive abdominal swelling needs proper clinical evaluation and imaging.