The swelling of the face is at times enormous, the eyelids being so oedematous that the patient can see only by separating them with the fingers. The oedema is more solid than that of nephritis. It not only rapidly appears but disappears as rapidly.
The oedema of beriberi may involve the glottis (oedema of glottis).
Oedema of genital regions is less marked than in nephritis or cardiac disease. We may also have localized areas of oedema 3 or 4 inches in diameter.
Ship beriberi, which has points in common with both beriberi and scurvy, shows oedema which may be limited to the lower extremities or generalized. Epidemic dropsy is a type of beriberi in which there are fever and an erythema over the dropsical areas.
Calabar Swellings.—These seem connected with infections with Filaria loa. The swellings originate suddenly and disappear in three or four days. They are hard and do not pit on pressure. These smooth swellings, often 2 to 4 inches in extent, are most often seen on arms, face or ankles.
In trypanosomiasis oedema of the face and especially of the eyelids may be striking. There may also be patches of oedema elsewhere.
In Katayama disease the urticarial areas of oedema have given it the name of urticarial fever.
A peculiar disease of North China, known as atriplicism, is caused by the eating by the very poor of a weed, Atriplex, common around Pekin. There is itching of the fingers, quickly followed by swelling. This tends to extend to the back of the hands and up the outer surface of the forearm. The face becomes so swollen that the eyelids may be closed.