Strep Throat Pregnancy

Contents:

• What is Pharyngitis
• Strep Throat Symptoms
• How Dangerous is Strep Throat For a Pregnant
• Treatment of Strep Throat in Pregnancy
• Preventive Measures

Strep Throat During Pregnancy

Any health problems are risky during pregnancy and too problematic for a woman even if the disease seems mild and harmless. This is because the medicinal treatment during pregnancy is risky for the health of the fetus in most cases.

This relates to pharyngitis, either, which is the inflammation of the pharynx. Often, it occurs as the common ARVI complication. Now, we will discuss the ways the mother-to-be should know to cope with this problem safely for the fetus and her health.

What is Pharyngitis

It is the inflammatory process that affects the back of the pharynx followed with pain and throat irritation, running nose and higher body temperature.

The reasons that may result in the strep throat:

• cold drinks;
• ARVI not fully treated;
• ENT diseases;
• cold and contaminated air;
• dental caries;
• smoking including passive smokers.

In this case, the strep throat may be caused by viruses (rinovirus, coronovirus, adenovirus, influenza and Para influenza viruses, herpes virus and so on), and bacteria and fungus. In most cases, the viral infection is the first stage of the disease while microorganisms and fungi commit to complicate the condition exacerbating the disease.

Strep Throat Symptoms

There are two forms of the disease – acute and chronic. Acute pharyngitis in pregnancy is directly caused by any unfavorable factor that affects the mucus membrane of the throat. The process turns to a chronic state upon the long-term irritation of the mucus membrane and in case if the disease is wrongly treated in its acute phase.

Acute strep throat symptoms include the following:

• discomfort, throat dryness and irritation;
• rise of body temperature up to 37,5-38 degrees;
• enlargement and pain in the neck lymph nodes;
• edema and redness in the back of throat;
• hoarseness (by the evening, especially).

The chronic pharyngitis may be manifested with the hard dry cough apart from dryness and irritation in the throat. As a rule, the chronic phase of the diseases is not reported with the rise of body temperature.

How Dangerous is Strep Throat for a Pregnant

Any infectious diseases, including pharyngitis, are risky for the health of the mother, normal development of the fetus and pregnancy, on whole. So, the sore and irritated throat in early pregnancy may result in miscarriage, and cause the fetal hypoxia or commit to the premature labor in later stages of pregnancy.

Therefore, it’s extremely important to seek the medical help with the first symptoms of the diseases. The proficient health provider will consider all peculiarities of the disease, identify the cause, perform the comprehensive diagnostic tests and prescribe the effective therapeutic treatment in view of the pregnancy condition.

Treatment of Strep Throat in Pregnancy

The comprehensive treatment is the best for a pregnant. It should include not only pharmaceuticals but also general instructions to follow day-by-day.

So, the pregnant women are recommended:

• to talk less to ensure calmness of the throat;
• to exclude salty, bitter, spicy and smoked food products as well as soda drinks;
• to drink more warm not hot liquid: fruit drinks, stewed fruit, hedge rose brew, tea, milk with honey;
• to rest more;
• to air premises and humidify indoor air.

The following is recommended for treatment:

• throat rinsing with herbal extracts and brews (calendula, camomile, ribwort, peppermint, lemon balm);
• throat rinsing with antiseptic solutions (furacilin, propolis tinct, Chlorophyllipt, Chlorhexidine);
• inhalation with eucalyptus oil, spruce tea, peppermint and lemon balm;
• lozenges, or slowly disintegrating tablets (Lysobact, Faringosept, Pharyngopills);
• Bioparox, Tantum Verde;
• paracetamol-based medication to subdue a fever.

Traditional remedies to treat the strep throat include a bee glue (propolis) that is chewed several times a day after meal, and the mixture of honey with garlic. Throat rinsing with the salty solution with iodine is strictly forbidden.

This may intensify the inflammation process. If you do not feel better within three days when using such methods, you’d better go and visit your doctor again.

Preventive Measures

To lower the risk of pharyngitis during pregnancy, a pregnant woman should follow some simple rules as follow:

• regular dental prophylaxis;
• avoid crowded places;
• apply some oxolinic ointment to the nasal cavities or use a few drops of Grippferon into nasal cavities with salty water rinsing upon coming back home;
• change a toothbrush one in 3 months;
• walk more often outdoor;
• avoid cold drinks.

Remember that even such a disease as pharyngitis should not be self-treated in pregnancy. It is the competent physician who can prescribe the appropriate medication to be optimally wholesome for your health and safe for your baby.