Sore throat in the third trimester of pregnancy

Redness of the throat during pregnancy is a common symptom. It is accompanied by the onset of pain in the oropharynx, which is aggravated by talking or swallowing. Depending on the cause of the mucous membrane lesion of the pharynx, other clinical signs may join. How to treat a throat during pregnancy?

Against the background of weakened immunity, women have colds and exacerbations of chronic diseases for 9 months. Among the reasons that predispose the appearance of sore throat, it is worth highlighting:

viral pathogens (ARVI, influenza, chickenpox). A viral illness can be suspected based on symptoms such as a runny nose, nasal congestion, headache, malaise, dizziness, and decreased appetite. At the same time, the temperature can fluctuate between 37.1-37.5 degrees, causing body aches.
bacteria, such as streptococci, that attack the lining of the tonsils, leading to the development of sore throat. Symptomatically, the pathology is manifested by a pronounced pain syndrome in the oropharynx zone, febrile hyperthermia and signs of intoxication.
cold / dry air, dust, which, with prolonged exposure, can provoke an inflammatory reaction in the throat area. Minor damage to the mucous membrane leads to a decrease in its protective functions, which also predisposes to infection.
quite rarely, a sore throat during pregnancy is a manifestation of an allergic reaction. A woman may be bothered by itching of the eyes, skin, cough, lacrimation and rhinorrhea.

Particular attention should be paid to the treatment of tonsillitis due to the high risk of complications due to the spread of streptococcus throughout the body.

Among the severe complications, it is worth highlighting rheumatism, cardiac lesions (myocarditis, valvular defects), polyarthritis, renal dysfunction and septic conditions, when infectious foci are localized in many organs.

Of course, in the third trimester, the protection of the fetus is so well formed that few damaging factors can have a negative impact on its development. This is due to the development of protective factors formed by the placenta and almost all organs of the fetus.

However, you should not neglect your health, counting on the powerful protection of the fetus. There is still a high risk of premature placental abruption, premature delivery, and fetal hypoxia.

Treatment plan

"Pregnant" period requires careful use of drugs, taking into account possible complications. Therapeutic tactics for the appearance of a sore throat is based on:

Compliance with bed rest, which will preserve the strength of the body and restore immune protection;
Good nutrition. Good nutrition, enriched with proteins and complex carbohydrates, is important for a woman. Vegetables, fruits, dairy products and fish are especially useful. The body must receive the food it needs to replenish its energy reserves, provide vitamins and other useful elements. Hard, spicy, and cold dishes should be excluded from the diet, which additionally injure the mucous membrane of the oropharynx.
Drinking regimen, thanks to which the loss of fluid in case of fever is replenished, the process of removing toxic products from the body is accelerated, and hyperthermia is also reduced. Suitable for consumption are fruit drink, compote, juice and jelly, enveloping the damaged mucous membrane, thereby protecting it from further damage and accelerating cell regeneration. The intake of coffee, carbonated drinks and cold liquids is excluded.
Bowel work. Daily bowel emptying prevents the occurrence of endogenous intoxication associated with the absorption of toxins from processed foods in the intestine. This is especially important in the third trimester, when the uterus can squeeze the intestinal loops, disrupting peristalsis.
Vitamin therapy.
Combating hyperthermia;
Reducing the severity of the inflammatory response;
Elimination of the infectious agent;
Reducing the influence of stress factors;
Regular ventilation of the room, humidification of the air and wet cleaning;
It is necessary to avoid long-term contact with sick people, especially during a flu epidemic.

Note that the amount of fluid you drink per day should be monitored by a doctor, which will avoid the appearance of edema, the development of renal or cardiac dysfunction. In the third trimester, a slight swelling of the lower extremities is quite typical for pregnant women. This is due to the enlargement of the fetus and uterus, respectively, which leads to compression of the veins that ensure the outflow of venous blood from the legs.

We emphasize that with angina it is prohibited:

independently remove the film plaque from the tonsils. This will not stop the sore throat, and an additional wound surface will appear, which is characterized by bleeding;
carry out procedures involving the use of high temperatures, for example, showers, compresses or foot baths;
take antibacterial drugs on their own or prematurely end the course without first consulting a doctor.

Antiviral and antibiotic therapy

If the provoking factor is known, due to which the throat hurts during pregnancy, the third trimester allows the appointment of the following drugs. With a viral etiology of the disease, antiviral agents should be taken, which not only lead to the death of infectious pathogens, but also have an immunomodulatory effect:

Nazoferon is produced in the form of nasal drops. It has antiviral, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and immunostimulating effects. Apply 3 drops in each nasal passage three times a day. The duration of the therapeutic course is 5 days.
Engystol refers to homeopathic remedies with antiviral effect. It is used to avoid getting sick, or to treat ARVI. The tablet should be sucked under the tongue three times a day, a quarter of an hour before meals. In case of an acute onset of a viral disease, it is necessary to dissolve the pill with an interval of 15 minutes for 2 hours, and then switch to the three-time dose regimen. The duration of the course can be up to 2 weeks.

In the case of bacterial genesis of the disease, the appointment of antibacterial drugs is required.

The choice of the drug, the dose, as well as the duration of admission is established solely by the doctor based on the results of the diagnosis.

To combat the bacterial pathogen, the attending physician may prescribe:

the penicillin group of antibiotics, for example, Flemoxin, Augmentin. They are quite often prescribed to pregnant women, because they do not have side effects for the embryo.
cephalosporin series (Cephalexin, Cefepim, Cefuroxime). It is used in the absence of a therapeutic effect / intolerance to penicillin antibiotics. Not toxic to the fetus.
macrolides (Erythromycin) are used for a short course in the presence of allergic reactions / ineffectiveness of the above antibiotics. They have a low risk of complications, however, if necessary, they can be prescribed.

Note that many antibacterial drugs are extremely toxic to the embryo, therefore, are prohibited for use by pregnant women:

Doxycycline, tetracycline are capable of disrupting the exchange of minerals, accumulate in dental, bone structures, liver parenchyma. Easily cope with placental protection.
Fluoroquinolones (Ofloxacin), having penetrated the placental barrier, affect cartilage, bone tissue, as well as ligaments.
Macrolides (Clarithromycin) are toxic to the fetus.
Aminoglycosides (streptomycin, gentamicin), after overcoming the placental protection, affect the structures of the kidneys, the organs of hearing of the embryo, which leads to congenital deafness.
Biseptol in large doses passes through the placenta, predisposing to the formation of cardiac anomalies, the appearance of mutations.

Antipyretic drugs

Temperature control is an important part of the treatment process. If, with a viral disease, the fever may not exceed 37.5 degrees, then with a bacterial infection, hyperthermia reaches 39 degrees and higher.

When the fever is registered up to 37.5 degrees, the pregnant woman is shown drinking plenty of fluids, a warm shower, and rubbing off parts of the body with a diluted vinegar solution.

With regard to hyperthermia above 37.5 degrees, treatment includes antipyretics (antipyretics).

Please note that preparations should not contain aspirin. Fighting fever is necessary to avoid the development of placental insufficiency, embryonic hypoxia and premature birth.

The third trimester provides the preparation of the fetus for independent life, therefore, the influence of negative factors can disrupt it, lead to the birth of a premature baby.

Sore throat therapy

When the first signs of illness appear in the form of perspiration or soreness in the oropharynx, you should immediately start gargling. This will help to stop the development of the inflammatory response, reduce the severity of symptoms, as well as prevent the spread of infection throughout the body. How to gargle during pregnancy?

Traditional medicine recipes:

the most accessible and common antiseptic solution is soda-salt solution. Before use, you should thoroughly dissolve 5 g ingredients in 180 ml warm water. When the salt particles are completely dissolved, you can start the procedure. If a woman is not allergic to iodine products, it is allowed to add 2 drops of iodine to the solution. This will greatly enhance the therapeutic effect.
in warm water with a volume of 190 ml, you can dissolve 15 g of propolis. The rinses are repeated every 3 hours.
dried blueberries with a volume of 100 g should be boiled in half a liter of water until 200 ml of liquid has evaporated. Use for rinsing.

It is recommended to rinse every 90 minutes, alternating the drugs used. For oral administration, milk, ginger and mint are recommended:

It is necessary to boil 15 g of turmeric with 10 g of finely chopped ginger in 240 ml of milk. After cooling the medicine to 40 degrees and adding 30 g of honey, you can drink it three times a day.
Finely chopped ginger 20 g is brought to a boil in 330 ml of water, after which a 30 g green tea infusion and a few mint sprigs are added. The medicine is taken warm, 100 ml twice a day.
Lemons chopped with a meat grinder should be covered with sugar (to taste) and taken 5 g twice a day. The recipe is not suitable for pregnant women with high acidity of gastric juice.
15 g of honey should be mixed with cranberry juice, taken once a day. If you do not want to consume cranberry juice, you can simply dissolve the honey before bed.

Of the pharmaceuticals that are used for rinsing, Miramistin, Chlorhexidine, Furacilin and Chlorophyllipt should be distinguished. In the form of a spray, Ingalipt, Tantum-Verde and Chlorophyllipt can be purchased for irrigating the throat. Lizobact and Faringosept in tablet form are used for resorption, which reduces sore throat.

Complex treatment of sore throat should begin at the beginning of the disease, when the infectious agent has not yet penetrated into the general bloodstream and intoxication syndrome has not developed.

Timely use of antiseptic rinsing solutions allows you to suspend the appearance of general symptoms, limiting the infectious process within the oropharynx.