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Multiple Choice

Which of the following best defines eclampsia?

Eclampsia means seizures that occur in a pregnant person who has a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, typically in the setting of preeclampsia. It’s not just high blood pressure; the seizure signals a progression to a life‑threatening neurologic complication driven by severe cerebral involvement. Recognizing this combination—pregnancy, hypertension (with signs of preeclampsia), and new-onset seizures—identifies eclampsia. In practice, treat as an obstetric emergency: secure the airway and breathing, administer magnesium sulfate to prevent further seizures, manage blood pressure appropriately, monitor mother and fetus, and proceed toward delivery when feasible, since delivery is the definitive treatment. Other options don’t fit because postpartum infection, placental previa, and hyperglycemia describe different conditions without the seizure component central to eclampsia.

Eclampsia means seizures that occur in a pregnant person who has a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, typically in the setting of preeclampsia. It’s not just high blood pressure; the seizure signals a progression to a life‑threatening neurologic complication driven by severe cerebral involvement. Recognizing this combination—pregnancy, hypertension (with signs of preeclampsia), and new-onset seizures—identifies eclampsia. In practice, treat as an obstetric emergency: secure the airway and breathing, administer magnesium sulfate to prevent further seizures, manage blood pressure appropriately, monitor mother and fetus, and proceed toward delivery when feasible, since delivery is the definitive treatment. Other options don’t fit because postpartum infection, placental previa, and hyperglycemia describe different conditions without the seizure component central to eclampsia.