Preeclampsia & Eclampsia: symptoms, causes & treatment in Nigeria
Also known as pregnancy hypertension, toxaemia.
This page is general health information, not a diagnosis. Always consult a licensed clinician about your own health.
Overview
Preeclampsia is dangerously high blood pressure developing after the 20th week of pregnancy, often with protein in the urine — it can progress to eclampsia (convulsions), a leading cause of maternal death in Nigeria. It can develop quietly, which is why every antenatal visit includes a BP check and urine test. Delivery of the baby is the definitive cure, timed by the medical team.
Symptoms
High blood pressure found at antenatal checks
Severe headache that does not respond to simple relief
Visual disturbance — flashing lights or blurring
Pain in the upper right abdomen
Sudden swelling of the face and hands
Reduced urine output
Convulsions (eclampsia — emergency)
Causes & risk factors
Abnormal development of the placenta's blood supply
First pregnancy, teenage or older maternal age
Pre-existing hypertension, diabetes or kidney disease
Multiple pregnancy (twins or more)
Family or personal history of preeclampsia
Treatment & self-care
Management is hospital-based: blood-pressure control, medicines to prevent convulsions, close monitoring of mother and baby, and delivery at the time the obstetric team judges safest. High-risk women may be given preventive treatment from early pregnancy. Regular antenatal attendance is the single best protection — preeclampsia caught early is manageable; caught late it kills.
See a doctor urgently if
Severe headache or visual changes in pregnancy — same day
Sudden swelling of face and hands
Upper abdominal pain in late pregnancy
Any convulsion in pregnancy — emergency
High BP reading at any check
This condition can be an emergency. If any of the signs above are severe or getting worse, go to the nearest emergency room now or call 112 or 199 — do not wait for an online consultation.
Frequently asked questions
What are the first signs of Preeclampsia & Eclampsia?
Early signs often include high blood pressure found at antenatal checks, severe headache that does not respond to simple relief, visual disturbance — flashing lights or blurring. Symptoms vary from person to person, so a proper assessment by a doctor is the only way to be sure.
Can Preeclampsia & Eclampsia be treated?
Management is hospital-based: blood-pressure control, medicines to prevent convulsions, close monitoring of mother and baby, and delivery at the time the obstetric team judges safest. High-risk women may be given preventive treatment from early pregnancy. Regular antenatal attendance is the single best protection — preeclampsia caught early is manageable; caught late it kills.
When should I see a doctor about Preeclampsia & Eclampsia?
See a doctor promptly if you notice: severe headache or visual changes in pregnancy — same day; sudden swelling of face and hands; upper abdominal pain in late pregnancy; any convulsion in pregnancy — emergency; high bp reading at any check. These can be signs of an emergency — if severe, go to the nearest emergency room or call 112 or 199.
See an MDCN-verified doctor about preeclampsia & eclampsia by video, audio or chat — then order medicine, book a lab test or get a home visit from the same app.