Managing Complications in Pregnancy and Childbirth: - IAWG

S-40 Headache, blurred vision, convulsions or loss of consciousness, elevated blood pressure• Trismus (difficulty openingmouth and chewing)• Spasms of face, neck,trunk• Arched back• Board-like abdomen• Spontaneous violentspasmsTetanus, page S-50aIf a woman has any one of the symptoms or signs listed under severe preeclampsia,diagnose severe pre-eclampsia.TABLE S-9 Cont. Diagnosis of headache, blurred vision, convulsions orloss of consciousness and elevated blood pressurePresenting Symptom andOther Symptoms and SignsTypically PresentSymptoms and SignsSometimes PresentProbable Diagnosis• Convulsions• Past history of convulsions• Normal blood pressure• Fever• Chills/rigors• Headache• Muscle/joint pain• Symptoms and signs ofuncomplicated malaria• Coma• Anaemia• Headache• Stiff neck• Photophobia• Fever• Headache• Blurred vision• Enlarged spleen• Convulsions• Jaundice• Convulsions• Confusion• Drowsiness• Coma• VomitingEpilepsy b , pageS-51Uncomplicatedmalaria, page S-103Severe/complicatedmalaria, page S-52Meningitis b,c orEncephalitis b,cMigraine dbIf a diagnosis of eclampsia cannot be ruled out, continue treatment for eclampsia.cExamine spinal fluid and give appropriate treatment for meningitis or encephalitis.dGive analgesics (e.g. paracetamol 500 mg by mouth as needed).A small proportion of women with eclampsia have normal bloodpressure. Treat all women with convulsions as if they haveeclampsia until another diagnosis is confirmed.