This is a disease that affects pregnant women after the 20th week of pregnancy.
Factors that promote the apparition of the condition are genetic predisposition, first pregnancy, multiple pregnancies and renal disease.
There is hypertension, leaking of proteins in urine and edemas. The most common symptoms include swelling of the face, hands and/or legs, rapid weight gain (more than one kilo per week), continuous headache which may be accompanied by visual disturbances, abdominal pain in the area under the ribs on the right side, nausea, vomiting and irritability. It may worsen as the pregnancy progresses. It could lead to severe complications for the mother and the fetus. Symptoms are resolved after childbirth.
The diagnosis is established through the collection of clinical history, physical examination (detection of high blood pressure) and is confirmed by the leaking of proteins in urine.
Treatment is symptomatic and, depending on severity criteria, it may involve the delivery of the baby as soon as possible.
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