Delayed-Onset Postpartum Eclampsia in an Adolescent: A Case Presentation

This case presentation, developed during my Family Medicine Sub-Internship at Florida State University College of Medicine, describes a 16-year-old patient who presented with delayed-onset postpartum eclampsia 17 days after delivery. This report reviews her prenatal and peripartum course preceding the acute seizure event, emphasizing the diagnostic challenges of late postpartum eclampsia, which often occurs beyong the typical 48–72 hour window. Clinical presentation, laboratory evaluation, differential diagnoses, and management strategies are also discussed. A brief literature review highlights maternal risk factors, pathophysiology, and the importance of maintaining extended vigilance for eclampsia. The goal of this presentation is to raise awareness of delayed postpartum eclampsia and promote timely recognition and treatment to ultimately improve maternal outcomes.