Eclampsia is one of the most serious complications of severe preeclampsia. In the developed world, it is exceedingly rare and nearly always treatable if appropriate intervention is promptly sought. According to "Pre-Eclampsia: The Facts" (Redman, Walker, copyright 92), Pre-eclampsia is so named because it was originally identified as a disorder preceding eclampsia, although it is now known that eclamptic convulsions is only one of the several potential complications of the disease.

The standard course of treatment for eclampsia is magnesium sulfate. This simple salt saves mothers lives. According to the Collaborative Eclampsia Trial (CLASP) published in The Lancet, June 95, women on magnesium sulfate had Babies of mothers on magnesium were in better condition after delivery and less likely to need special care; Nevertheless, magnesium sulfate, is not a benign drug and must be used by a skilled health care provider with appropriate support facilities.

Pre-eclampsia or Toxemia is high blood pressure during pregnancy. It occurs only during pregnancy and most often shows up in the 3rd and final trimester although it can occur in the late 2nd trimester. It can be very dangerous and lead to dangerous seizures which we call eclampsia. There is no cure for this disease except for delivery. During the delivery process you may receive medication to prevent seizures and also to lower your blood pressure.

Etymology: New Latin, from Greek eklampsis sudden flashing, from eklampein to shine forth, from ex- out + lampein to shine a convulsive state; especially : an attack of convulsions during pregnancy or parturition - eclamp?tic /i-'klam(p)-tik/ adjective

In some women the blood pressure may increase during the later stages of pregnancy (20 weeks or more), sometimes in association with swelling of the ankles. There is also a marked gain in weight, which is not due to overeating, but to retention of salt and water. This condition has various names, the commonest being pre-eclampsia.

Oedema, when your ankles and hands swell slightly, is common during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. While it can be uncomfortable, it's not dangerous. For more, see our article on oedema. If, however, you notice sudden swelling of your face and hands, it could be something serious and even life-threatening - pre-eclampsia, or severely elevated blood pressure. See our article for more information:

The treatment for pre-eclampsia is delivery. So if the disease is mild and you're within a few weeks of your due date, your doctor will induce labor. If you develop pre-eclampsia before your baby can be safely delivered, your doctor may recommend bed rest at home and consider antihypertensive medications to bring your blood pressure under control.

The pre-eclampsia syndrome, despite having been recognized for millennia, continues to remain an enigma. Complicating 5 per cent of pregnancies, it is a leading cause of maternal death and preterm birth worldwide, and is a major public health problem. Its etiology remains elusive, and, at present, the only definitive treatment is delivery. Prediction is also problematic, and no currently available clinical test is able to determine who will develop the syndrome during pregnancy, or when.

Pre-eclampsia is a fairly common (10%) complication of a first pregnancy. Although there are many theories nobody knows exactly why women develop it. The most effective way of dealing with pre-eclampsia is to deliver the baby and if the pregnancy is well advanced this solution poses no difficulty for the mother and baby. It may however pose problems if the baby is very premature. Pre-eclampsia almost invariably settles within the first six weeks of giving birth and usually will no re-occur.

No. While too much sodium is never good, you need salt to help promote the flow of fluid in your body. Talk to your doctor about how much salt is safe to consume during pregnancy. Reviewed By: Peter Chen, M.D., Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition.

Not necessarily. Pre-eclampsia is almost always accompanied by other symptoms, such as protein in your urine and excessive swelling. Your doctor will continue to monitor your blood pressure and watch out for these symptoms. If they don't develop, then you probably won't get pre-eclampsia. Women who have chronic hypertension are more at risk to get superimposed pre-eclampsia than the general population.