Eclampsia
Alternate Names : Toxemia with Seizures
What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?
The symptoms of preeclampsia may include:
agitation and confusion
changes in mental status
decreased urine output
headaches
nausea and vomiting
pain in the right upper part of the abdomen
shortness of breath
sudden weight gain over 1 to 2 days
swelling of the face or hands
visual impairment
weight gain of more than 2 pounds per week
Women who have these symptoms are at high risk for eclampsia. Usually there are no clues or warning signs before a seizure. A woman with eclampsia may have one or many seizures. The seizures cause muscle spasms, loss of consciousness, and short-term memory problems. Afterward, the woman may breathe very rapidly to make up for the lack of oxygen during the seizure itself. A fever at this point is a sign of serious trouble.
During or after a seizure, a woman may:
bite her tongue
break bones
breathe fluids into her lungs
develop fluid and swelling in her lungs that make it hard to breathe
experience a detached retina in the eye
harm her head
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