Eclampsia is best defined as:

Appeared in: KPSC Staff Nurse - 2015

Explanation

Eclampsia is defined as the new onset of generalized, tonic-clonic seizures or coma in a woman with preeclampsia.
It represents a severe progression of preeclampsia and is considered a life-threatening obstetric emergency.
The key feature that distinguishes eclampsia from preeclampsia is the presence of convulsions, which are not attributable to any other cause.

Option A: High blood pressure that develops after 20 weeks of gestation without proteinuria is classified as gestational hypertension, not eclampsia.
Option B: Proteinuria is a key diagnostic marker for preeclampsia when it occurs with hypertension, but it does not define eclampsia.
Option D: Edema (swelling) is a very common finding in normal pregnancies and is no longer used as a primary diagnostic criterion for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy due to its low specificity.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Definition and classification of eclampsia as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must be able to rapidly identify the signs of worsening preeclampsia (e.g., severe headache, visual disturbances, epigastric pain) to prevent progression to eclampsia.
Immediate nursing priorities during an eclamptic seizure include ensuring patient safety (preventing injury), maintaining a patent airway (turning the patient to her side), and administering anticonvulsant medication (magnesium sulfate) as prescribed.
Post-seizure, the nurse must closely monitor vital signs, fetal heart rate, and signs of complications like placental abruption or pulmonary edema.

How to Approach the Question

The question asks for the 'best' definition of eclampsia. This requires identifying the most specific and defining characteristic.
Evaluate each option against the known medical definitions of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.
Recognize that 'High blood pressure' (Option A) is too general and defines gestational hypertension.
Recognize that 'Proteinuria' (Option B) is a key feature of preeclampsia, the precursor to eclampsia.
Recognize that 'Edema' (Option D) is a non-specific symptom common in pregnancy.
Identify that 'Seizures in a woman with preeclampsia' (Option C) is the precise, textbook definition that distinguishes eclampsia from all other hypertensive states in pregnancy.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QbgzOXL5blfSJvkyNhbACE

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 2 p. 1803-1805

E6 Obstetrics Williams p. 2-9

Practise the full KPSC Staff Nurse - 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.