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An estimated 7% of pregnant women develop the condition known as toxaemia, a pregnancy induced hypertensive disorder that is also known as preeclampsia. In its fairly mild form, close monitoring will prevent any serious problems arising either for mother or child, but in its more severe manifestation, the disease can cause many serious health problems. Indeed, toxaemia and other hypertensive disorders are leading causes of maternal and infant mortality worldwide.

What is the cause of toxaemia? At the present time, medical science is yet to determine what the causes of toxaemia are so that, unless and until the disease manifests, there is no sure way of telling whether or not a woman is at risk. However, certain facts help to indicate whether or not certain women are more predisposed to developing the disease than others.

Not surprisingly, pregnancy itself brings with it the greatest risk of the disorder developing. First pregnancies are particularly susceptible to the development of toxaemia and the disorder starts at the same time as the placenta starts to develop, although it may remain undiagnosed until much later. Second and subsequent pregnancies are less likely to develop toxaemia unless in the case where the pregnancy is the result of a new partner different than the one responsible for the previous pregnancy or pregnancies. In addition, women who become pregnant for the first time in a decade or more are more likely to develop the disorder. Multiple births also carry a greater risk of developing toxaemia.

Women who have already suffered from pregnancy induced hypertension are more likely to suffer from it in subsequent pregnancies and a history of the disorder amongst a woman's previously pregnant relatives, mothers, sisters, etc., also indicates that the woman may be more predisposed to developing the disorder.

Age can also play a role in developing toxaemia and women who are over 35 years old or under 20 years old at the time of pregnancy run a higher risk of developing toxaemia, just as do woman who are obese either before pregnancy or who become so in the course of pregnancy.

It is very important that pregnant women visit their physicians regularly so that any indications of the disease can be detected as soon as possible. The symptoms of toxaemia are an increase in blood pressure, an increase in the protein level of the pregnant
woman's urine after the 20th week as well as a reduced urine production, a noticeable bloating of the limbs or the face, and blurred vision or even temporary loss of vision.

Toxaemia can be a very dangerous disorder, and early detection and, subsequently, a strict adherence to doctor's instructions can be of the greatest importance. Untreated, toxaemia can result in damage to the liver and/or kidneys even leading to a total failure of these important organs, the occurrence of epileptiform convulsions, coma and even death.

Toxaemia may be treated with the administration of mild doses of hypertension medication, but, where the case is severe, the usual treatment is a complete regimen of bed rest combined with limited physical activity and medications to bring down the woman's blood pressure. The bed rest does not stop the disease, it is merely intended that it slows its progress and allow the baby to develop sufficiently before either labour is induced or a caesarean section is performed.

Just as the causes of toxaemia remain unknown, there is also no cure for the disorder other delivery of the baby. What the medical experts do is merely to manage the situation in the best possible way until baby's arrival. The toxaemia should disappear within a few days of baby's arrival.

Learn more about this author, Imonikhe Ahimie.
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