What Is Dropsy Disease

Edema, also spelled oedema, and also known as fluid retention, dropsy, hydropsy and swelling, is the build-up of fluid in the body’s tissue. Most commonly, the legs or arms are affected. Symptoms may include skin which feels tight, the area may feel heavy, and affected joints may be hard to move.

What is dropsy disease in humans?

Dropsy: An old term for the swelling of soft tissues due to the accumulation of excess water. In years gone by, a person might have been said to have dropsy. Today one would be more descriptive and specify the cause. Thus, the person might have edema due to congestive heart failure.

What was the old disease called dropsy?

Prior to the twentieth century, heart failure was known as dropsy, a term used to describe the presence of generalized swelling, a clinical result of the syndrome.