Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List
| | A | | | B | | | C | | | D | | | E | | | F | | | G | | | H | | | I | | | J | | | K | | | L | | | M | |
| | N | | | O | | | P | | | Q | | | R | | | S | | | T | | | U | | | V | | | W | | | X | | | Y | |
Symptoms of Pre-eclampsia
There are no symptoms in the early stages, and it can only be detected by regular antenatal checks.
Circulation problems develop, which show up as high blood pressure, protein in the mother’s urine and fluid retention. As the condition progresses one or more of the following symptoms may occur:
- severe headaches,
- vision problems such as blurring or seeing flashing lights before the eyes,
- pain in the upper abdomen,
- vomiting, and
- sudden swelling of feet, ankles, face and hands and excessive weight gain because of fluid retention.
Immediate medical advice should be sought if these symptoms develop. Without immediate treatment, the condition may deteriorate quickly or develop complications.
Complications of pre-eclampsia include:
- eclampsia – a rare and serious complication, occurring during late pregnancy or during or just after delivery of the baby. It is characterised by one or more convulsions, or seizures, and may lead to coma. There is a poor correlation between the degree of raised blood pressure present in pre-eclampsia and the development of eclampsia.
- HELLP Syndrome (a combined liver and blood clotting disorder). This involves the pregnant women having (H) haemolytic anaemia, (EL) elevated liver enzymes, and (LP) low platelet count.
- Kidney or lung problems may also develop.
The main sign of pre-eclampsia in the unborn baby is slower growth than a normally developing baby.
