The abdomen suggestive of ascites
A 3-year-old boy is brought to his pediatrician after his mother notices that his limbs seem swollen and his stomach distended. She says the boy received an influenza shot 1 week ago. Physical examination reveals generalized pitting edema and shifting dullness of the abdomen suggestive of ascites as shown in the figure below. Urinalysis reveals 4+ proteinuria, and laboratory findings show decreased serum albumin. The pathophysiology of this patient’s edema is:
a. Increase hydrostatic pressure
b. Occlusion of the lymphatic system
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