What Causes Weeping Legs?
"Weeping legs," a term describing fluid leaking from the legs, often stems from underlying medical conditions. This leakage, sometimes called lymphorrhea, can be a symptom of severe issues requiring medical attention.
Several systemic conditions can lead to weeping legs. These include:
- Congestive heart failure: The heart's inability to pump blood efficiently causes fluid buildup.
- Liver failure: Impaired liver function affects fluid balance, resulting in edema.
- Kidney disease: Kidney dysfunction disrupts fluid regulation, leading to swelling.
- Hypoproteinemia: Low protein levels in the blood decrease the blood's ability to retain fluid, causing leakage.
- Chronic venous insufficiency: Weakness or damage to leg veins hinders blood return to the heart, causing fluid accumulation. This is often associated with leg ulcers.
- Lymphoedema: A problem with the lymphatic system, a network responsible for fluid drainage, leading to fluid buildup and leakage.
- Chronic wound edema: Persistent swelling in a wound area can result in fluid leakage. Weeping eczema can also contribute to this.
The Mayo Clinic further details these causes, highlighting kidney disease, liver damage, and venous issues as potential contributors to edema (swelling), a primary cause of weeping legs. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/edema/symptoms-causes/syc-20366493
Treatment
Treatment focuses on addressing the underlying cause. For example, managing congestive heart failure involves medication and lifestyle changes. Addressing a chronic wound requires specialized wound care, which might include superabsorbent dressings and compression bandages. The use of skin care and barrier creams is also mentioned as helpful in some cases. https://wounds-uk.com/wound-essentials/the-causes-and-treatment-of-wet-weeping-legs/ In many cases, compression therapy is beneficial in managing the swelling and fluid leakage.
