ECLAMPSIA PREGNANCY

ECLAMPSIA PREGNANCY

Eclampsia pregnancy is a severe condition of preeclampsia or a high blood pressure disorder that decreases the fetus’s blood supply, which may result in the fetus not receiving enough oxygen and nutrients for its growth. Eclampsia pregnancy commonly happens during or after the 20th week of gestation. It is a rare condition that affects 1 in every 2 000 to 3 000 pregnancies yearly.

Most of the pregnancies that are affected by eclampsia are first pregnancies. While it can be life-threatening if left untreated, it is very uncommon for pregnant women in advanced countries to die from this condition. Eclampsia has various related conditions that can either occur as symptoms or independent conditions, such as edema or tissue swelling due to the buildup of tissue fluids. Pulmonary edema is caused by the same buildup of fluid in the lungs, headaches caused by high blood pressure due to eclampsia, and gestational diabetes, causing the infant to gain too much weight during gestation.

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of eclampsia may occur at any time during pregnancy. Some of these symptoms may be caused by other conditions like diabetes or kidney disease.

Since preeclampsia takes place right before a person experiences eclampsia, it is essential to take note of the common symptoms of preeclampsia, which are following:

  • High blood pressure
  • Inflammation of the face or hands
  • Headaches
  • Extreme weight gain
  • Nausea and puking
  • Problems with eyesight (e. g. loss of vision, blurry vision)
  • Urinating problem
  • Stomach pain

And the common symptoms of eclampsia are:

  • Seizures
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Turmoil

DIAGNOSIS

 

Since pregnant women regularly visit their OB gyne for prenatal care, they must immediately see a doctor when preeclampsia or eclampsia symptoms start to surface.

Upon diagnosis, the physician will assess if the patient already has preeclampsia or if it has gone worse, leading to eclampsia. If none, the doctor will recommend the patient to undergo several tests for preeclampsia and other related conditions to identify what may be causing the seizures. Such tests are:

  • Blood Tests to measure the number of red blood cells and platelets to see how well your blood is clotting, and assess the kidney and liver function.
  • Creatinine tests to identify if there is too much creatinine in the blood of the muscles’ waste products, since creatinine is a waste product created by the muscles.
  • Urine Tests to check for the presence and excretion rate of protein because increased protein levels in the urine results can be an early symptom of preeclampsia and reduced renal function.

 

TREATMENT

 

Usually, women who experience preeclampsia are prescribed to take aspirin of low doses every day after 12 weeks of pregnancy. However, delivering the baby and placenta are the most recommended treatment for both preeclampsia and eclampsia. The doctor will acknowledge the urgency of the condition and the baby’s maturity when recommending the time of delivery.

If the woman is diagnosed with mild preeclampsia, close supervision, monitoring shall be directed, and medication to prevent it from worsening into eclampsia.

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