Eclampsia, or eclampsia, is a consequence of the so-called pre-eclampsia occurring in pregnant women. Eclampsia occurs in 1 in 1,600 pregnancies. What are the causes and symptoms of gestational eclampsia? How is eclampsia treated?

Eclampsiais a group of disease symptoms appearing after the 20th week of pregnancy, as well as during childbirth. Eclampsia is the most severe form of pregnancy poisoning (gestosis). Several factors may be responsible for this disease:

  • vasoconstriction
  • brain hypoxia
  • heart attacks and strokes
  • brain swelling
  • hypertensive and metabolic encephalopathy

Eclampsia - symptoms

  • severe headache
  • disturbance of consciousness
  • trouble seeing
  • nausea and vomiting
  • nystagmus
  • breath hold
  • loss of consciousness
  • increase in blood pressure
  • epigastric pains
  • szczękościsk
  • muscle contraction
  • coma

Poorly prognostic symptoms of eclampsia are:

  • coma lasting more than 6 hours
  • increased temperature to 39 ° C
  • oliguria
  • symptoms of a detachment of the placenta.

Eclampsia - four phases

  1. Initial symptoms - last several dozen minutes, the patient loses consciousness, there are vibrations of the facial muscles and nystagmus
  2. Tonic contractions - last from 10 to 60 seconds, respiratory function stops and all skeletal muscles contract. There is hypoxia
  3. Clonic contractions - last up to 2 minutes, involve the torso, facial muscles and limbs. Foam may appear on the lips
  4. Coma - lasts from a few seconds to a permanent coma

Eclampsia - what to do in case of an attack

  • first - put the patient on her back and protect against mechanical injuries
  • secondly - clear the airways by tilting the mandible
  • third - start anticonvulsant treatment

Eclampsia - diagnosis

Diagnostic tests include ultrasound of the fetus, uterus and amniotic fluid. The blood test consists of a complete blood count and blood glucose tests. Urine test onthe presence of protein can help diagnose preeclampsia. Pregnant women are also assessed for weight gain and the occurrence of flatulence.

Eclampsia - treatment

Preventive treatment consists in fighting poisoning during pregnancy. Magnesium, which should be provided by taking appropriate supplements and in the daily diet, also has an effective preventive effect. In pre-eclampsia, medications for high blood pressure are used. If treatment is successful, you can wait until natural delivery. If not, it is necessary to terminate the pregnancy or induce artificial labor. NOTE The decision to terminate pregnancy in a woman suffering from eclampsia should be made as soon as possible, because maternal mortality increases proportionally to the number and duration of seizures.

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Pregnant examinations