Swollen abdomen

Category: Digestive & Abdomen · All digestive symptoms

What it can feel like

A swollen abdomen means the belly is visibly larger than usual. Some swelling fluctuates with gas and meals; a steadily enlarging abdomen over days to weeks, especially with weight gain and breathlessness, suggests fluid collecting inside (ascites) or another cause that needs examination.

Possible causes

A symptom can have many causes, and most are not serious. The lists below group conditions this symptom can be associated with — common causes first. They are possibilities to discuss with a clinician, not a diagnosis.

Common causes

Abdominal swelling can be associated with gas and bloating, constipation, weight gain, and in women with fibroids or ovarian cysts.

Other possible causes

Steady enlargement can be associated with fluid from liver disease, heart failure or kidney problems, with ovarian or other cancers, and with bowel blockage when it arrives quickly with pain and vomiting.

Red flags — when to seek help promptly

A rapidly swelling abdomen with breathlessness or severe pain
Swelling with vomiting and inability to pass stool or wind
Swelling with yellowing of the eyes or confusion
New persistent swelling in a woman, with pelvic fullness

What a clinician may do

A clinician will examine the abdomen for fluid, masses and tenderness, and check ankles, heart and lungs. An ultrasound scan shows whether fluid or a mass is responsible; blood tests and sometimes a sample of the fluid (ascitic tap) establish the cause.

Watch: related videos

Examination and clinical videos from the MedicalVideos.com library relevant to this symptom. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.

▶ WatchCauses of ascitesWatch on MedicalVideos.com ▶ WatchAscites causes diagnosis and managementWatch on MedicalVideos.com ▶ WatchPeritoneal tap to drain ascites fluidWatch on MedicalVideos.com

Related guides on MedicalVideos.com

Frequently asked questions

How is fluid swelling different from bloating?

Bloating fluctuates through the day and with meals; fluid accumulates steadily, often with weight gain, tight shoes and breathlessness lying flat. A tape measure record over days can help show the difference to your clinician.

What is an ascitic tap?

If fluid is present, a clinician may remove a small sample with a fine needle under ultrasound guidance for testing — and larger amounts can be drained to relieve breathlessness. Our procedures guide explains what the tap involves.

Related symptoms — Digestive & Abdomen

Abdominal pain Black stools Bloating Blood in the stool Change in bowel habit Constipation

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Please note: This page is educational information about a symptom. A symptom alone cannot diagnose any condition, and the causes listed here are possibilities, not a diagnosis. If you are worried about a symptom — especially one that is new, severe, getting worse or not going away — please see your own clinician, who can examine you and arrange tests. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.