Ascites is the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, around the intestines and other abdominal organs, contains varying quantities of cells, bacteria, proteins and other substances.

What is it?

The vast majority of cases of ascites seen in patients with cirrhosis due to alcoholism and the Virus B and C. Heart failure, tumors affecting the peritoneum the lining inside the abdomen, liver metastases and peritoneal tuberculosis are major causes, but much less frequent. Rarely, ascites can occur by obstruction of hepatic blood flow or portal vein thrombosis or supra-hepatic, by excessive loss of protein in the urine/nephritic syndrome, in protein-energy malnutrition, hypothyroidism or by acute pancreatitis.

The increase in abdominal volume may be visible. Sometimes it is only perceived because the waist was tight clothing or the appearance of abdominal or inguinal hernias.

The development of ascites is usually slow and progressive over weeks to months, occurring without pain or other changes. Metastasis of cancer of an organ can cause abdominal pain continued, usually moderate. In heart failure can occurs discomfort and pain on the right side and upper abdomen.

Ascites high volume – can contain more than 10 liters – the abdomen becomes very prominent, hard and uncomfortable, causing heartburn and difficulty breathing. Symptoms of the disease-causing ascites ascites eventually appear in this more advanced.

Ascites (also known as “water belly”) is the name given to the accumulation of fluid within the abdomen. This liquid may have different compositions, such as lymph nodes in case of chylous ascites caused by obstruction of the lymphatic, bile, pancreatic juice (acute pancreatitis with fistula), urine (in case of perforation of the urinary tract) and others. But in the context of liver disease with portal hypertension (cirrhosis, schistosomiasis, and others), the ascites is Estravaza blood plasma into the abdominal cavity, mainly through the peritoneum, caused by a sum of factors.

What causes the disease known as water belly? How can we prevent it, treatment is effective? 
The “water belly”, whose scientific name is Ascites is characterized by the presence of fluid in the abdominal cavity.

This presence of liquid is caused by some diseases that cause there is a leakage of fluid in the abdominal cavity, such as:

• Cirrhosis,
• Nephrosis,
• Congestive Heart Failure,
• Tumors,
• Drilling of the viscera,
• Among others.

There is no prevention of ascites per se, but rather the diseases that lead to it.

Patients with severe ascites: 
Ascites in chronic liver disease indicates that the disease is advanced and is related to the appearance of other complications of cirrhosis such as variceal bleeding and hepatic encephalopathy. Initially, it can be treated with diuretics and low-salt diet, but as the disease progresses, the kidneys can not bear the diuretic and / or develop the so-called hepatorenal syndrome (kidney failure caused by changes cicrulatórias caused by cirrhosis) and can be necessary to perform paracentesis (drainage of ascites by puncture needle). Among other complications, the presence of ascites may lead to infection of ascites, a condition called spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, which can be severe, with high mortality if not treated properly.

Ascites Cure:

• Stay away from alcohol and it is the only cause behind the 80% of the total patients suffering from ascites disease.
• Exercise helps your abdominal muscles in building process and active healthy life and also protects the fluid accumulation.
• Do not sleep during the day; this plays an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of the body. Maintain a time schedule to go to bed at night and wake up early in the morning.
• Includes buttermilk, camel milk, soup of horse gram, old rice, salads with dry radish, garlic, asafetida and honey in a diet plan.
• Avoid taking too much starch like rice and wheat. Avoid Salt a very harmful for the patient of ascites.

Herbs like Arjuna, Tamra Bhasm and Punarnava have diuretic properties. Heenga or asafoetida dissolved in hot water is used to foment the abdomen. Himsra or caper brush should be taken as directed. Kakamachi or black nightshade is used in the ayurvedic treatment of Ascites. Kateli or kantakari is used to treat dropsy along with ascites.

Milk can be given to the patient Avoid drinking excess water, when thirsty. In take of more water during the case of ascities adds to swelling and weight gain.

Keywords: cirrhosis, inguinal hernias, liver metastases, Metastasis of cancer, peritoneal tuberculosis, water belly

Sources : http://www.cw-health.com/tag/peritoneal-tuberculosis