Eclampsia is a serious complication of pre-eclampsia during pregnancy that can cause seizures or coma and can put the lives of both the woman and the baby at risk if not diagnosed and treated in time.
This complication can appear mainly from the 20th week of pregnancy, being more common in the last trimester of pregnancy, and can also occur during childbirth or up to 6 weeks after birth. Therefore, it is important for women to attend prenatal consultations to identify any other complications that may arise.
Pre-eclampsia is a disease that causes high blood pressure, equal to or greater than 140 x 90 mmHg, the presence of proteins in the urine and swelling of the body. Learn more about pre-eclampsia.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of eclampsia are:
- Seizures;
- Mental confusion;
- Loss of consciousness.
However, other symptoms that may appear before seizures and that serve as a warning sign are:
- Increased blood pressure;
- Intense headache;
- Increased sweating on the hands and face;
- Decreased urinary frequency;
- Severe abdominal pain;
- Nausea and vomiting;
- Vision changes, such as double, blurred vision or loss of vision;
- Difficulty breathing.
Seizures in eclampsia tend to be generalized and progress to coma.
Don’t ignore the signs your body is giving you!
What to do in case of a seizure
If a woman has a seizure, it is recommended to place something to cushion her head and prevent it from hitting the ground, move away objects that could cause damage, loosen the clothing around her neck and chest to make breathing easier, time the seizure time ( if possible), and place the person on the left side.
You should then call the emergency department or go to the nearest health center as quickly as possible so that treatment can begin as quickly as possible to avoid complications for the woman and the baby.
Postpartum eclampsia
Eclampsia can also appear after the birth of the baby, especially in women who had pre-eclampsia during pregnancy, therefore, it is important to continue the evaluation even after the birth, so that any sign of worsening can be identified, and they should only be discharged from the hospital. after pressure normalization and symptoms improve. Find out what the main symptoms are and how postpartum eclampsia happens.
What causes eclampsia
The causes of eclampsia are related to the implantation and development of blood vessels in the placenta, which can alter blood pressure.
Some factors can increase a woman’s risk of developing eclampsia, such as:
- Age over 40 or under 18;
- Family history of eclampsia;
- Twin pregnancy;
- Women with hypertension;
- Obesity;
- Diabetes;
- Chronic kidney disease;
- Pregnant women with autoimmune diseases, such as lupus.
The way to prevent eclampsia is to control your blood pressure during pregnancy and take the necessary prenatal tests to detect any changes indicative of this disease, such as pre-eclampsia. Learn how to identify preeclampsia and when it can become serious.
How the treatment is carried out
Eclampsia, unlike common hypertension, does not respond to diuretics or a low-salt diet, so treatment typically includes:
1. Administration of magnesium sulfate
Administration of magnesium sulfate into a vein is the most common treatment in cases of eclampsia, which works to control seizures and coma. Treatment must be carried out after hospitalization and magnesium sulfate must be administered by a healthcare professional directly into the vein. In general, this medication is continued until 24 hours after the last seizure.
In cases where the woman does not respond to treatment, the doctor may recommend the use of other anticonvulsant medications, such as diazepam or phenytoin.
2. Antihypertensives
In addition to magnesium sulfate, the use of antihypertensives may also be indicated to control blood pressure, the dose of which must be indicated by the doctor.
2. Rest
During hospital stay, pregnant women should rest as much as possible, preferably lying on their left side, in order to improve blood flow to the baby.
3. Induction of labor
Childbirth is the only way to cure eclampsia, however induction can be delayed with medication so that the baby can develop as much as possible.
Therefore, during treatment, a clinical examination must be carried out daily, every 6 hours to control the evolution of eclampsia, and if there is no improvement, labor must be induced as quickly as possible, in order to resolve the seizures caused. by eclampsia.
Although eclampsia usually improves after birth, complications may arise in the following days, which is why the woman must be closely monitored and when signs of eclampsia persist, hospitalization can last from a few days to weeks, depending on the severity of the problem and of possible complications.
Possible complications
Eclampsia can cause some complications, especially when not treated quickly as soon as it is identified. One of the main complications is HELLP syndrome, which is characterized by a serious alteration in blood circulation, in which there is destruction of red blood cells, a decrease in platelets and damage to liver cells, causing an increase in liver enzymes and bilirubin in the blood test. Find out more about what HELLP syndrome is and how to treat it.
Other possible complications are decreased blood flow to the brain, causing neurological damage, as well as fluid retention in the lungs, breathing difficulties and kidney or liver failure.
In addition, babies can also be affected, which may result in damage to their development or the need to bring birth forward. In some cases, the baby may not be fully developed, and as a result there may be problems, such as breathing difficulties, requiring monitoring by a neonatologist and, in some cases, admission to the ICU to ensure better care.
Sign up for our newsletter and stay up to date with exclusive news
that can transform your routine!
