Medical illness during pregnancy.

Several medical illnesses commonly occur in the pregnant patient admitted to the emergency department. Some, such as hyperemesis gravidarum and urinary tract infection, occur exclusively or with increased frequency in pregnancy. Thromboembolic disease is the leading cause of maternal death in pregnancies that survive the first 3 months. Sickle cell disease, seizures, diabetes, and asthma are common in young women, and the emergency physician needs to know the ways in which pregnancy alters presentation and management of these illnesses.