hydropsy

A patient with hydropsy rests in a hospital bed.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • Pathological condition: "hydropsy" is a medical term referring to an abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in the tissues or body cavities, commonly known as dropsy or edema.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The patient was diagnosed with hydropsy, leading to severe swelling in his lower limbs. (A medical condition involving fluid retention.)
  • In ancient times, hydropsy was often treated with herbal diuretics. (A historical reference to the condition.)

Advanced Usage

• "Hydropsy of the abdomen": a specific form of hydropsy localized in the abdominal cavity, often called ascites.

  • The physician noted hydropsy of the abdomen in the patient with liver disease. (Fluid accumulation in the belly.)

• "Cardiac hydropsy": hydropsy resulting from heart failure.

  • Cardiac hydropsy is a common complication of advanced heart disease. (Fluid buildup due to poor heart function.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hydroptic (adj): relating to or affected by hydropsy; dropsical.

  • The hydroptic patient required careful monitoring of fluid intake. (The patient suffering from dropsy.)

• Hydrops (n): a modern medical synonym for hydropsy, often used in terms like "fetal hydrops."

  • Fetal hydrops is a serious condition in newborns. (Severe fluid accumulation in a fetus.)

Synonyms

• Dropsy: an older, more common term for hydropsy.
• Edema: the general medical term for fluid retention in tissues.

Related Idioms