[Etiology of ascites in 165 children].

Objectives: To study the etiology and clinical features of children with ascites, so as to provide a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of ascites in children.

Methods: The medical data of the children with ascites, who were hospitalized from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2019, were retrospectively reviewed.

Results: Among the 165 children with ascites, the male/female ratio was 1.53:1, and the mean age of onset was (6±4) years. The causes of ascites included surgical acute abdomen (39 children, 23.6%), infectious diseases (39 children, 23.6%), neoplastic diseases (27 children, 16.4%), hepatogenic diseases (18 children, 10.9%), pancreatitis (10 children, 6.1%), cardiogenic diseases (8 children, 4.8%), rheumatic immune diseases (6 children, 3.6%), and nephrogenic diseases (5 children, 3.0%). According to the age of onset, there were 33 infants, 24 young children, 30 preschool children, 41 school-aged children, and 37 adolescents. Surgical acute abdomen and hepatogenic diseases were the main causes of ascites in infants (<0.05). Neoplastic disease was the leading cause in young children (<0.05). Infectious diseases were the most common cause in adolescents (<0.05).

Conclusions: Surgical acute abdomen, infectious diseases, neoplastic diseases, and hepatogenic diseases are the common causes of ascites in children, and there are some differences in the leading cause of ascites between different age groups.