Pre-eclampsia Quiz Answers
1. Original name of Pre-eclampsia
Toxemia
Not used much anymore although you still find people today using the term ‘pre-
eclamptic toxemia’. Literally this means ‘blood poisoning’. The term pre-eclampsia is
a variant of eclampsia, which comes from the Greek word lampeen - meaning ‘to
flash’. This refers to the ‘flashing lights’ which accompany headaches that can be
characteristic of eclampsia (see PRECOG). Pre-eclampsia is the stage before
eclampsia.
2. Symptoms and Signs
Severe swelling (oedema) especially of hands and face or upper body
Headaches (like migraine) that don’t go away, sometimes accompanied by vomiting,
Blurred vision/flashing lights or spots before the eyes,
Severe pain below ribs, especially on right side,
Vomiting
Clonus
