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I'm Pregnant and Have a Sore Throat What Can I Take

Are you pregnant and experiencing a sore pharynx?

Pregnancy can make the treatment of mutual ailments infinitely more circuitous. Because your baby's health is of utmost importance, in that location are many things yous can't ingest while pregnant.

Only your health and comfort are important, too, so it'southward necessary to appropriately diagnose and treat whatever potentially serious illnesses you lot may develop during pregnancy.

A sore throat is rarely an indicator of serious disease, just it tin can cause severe discomfort. Hither'south everything you demand to know about treating a sore throat during pregnancy.

  • What Causes a Sore Throat?
  • Is a Sore Throat Dangerous During Pregnancy?
  • When Should I See a Doctor for My Sore Throat?
  • What Types of Remedies Should I Avert While Pregnant?
  • What Medications Can I Accept While Meaning?
  • How Tin can I Care for a Sore Throat While Significant?
  • The Lesser Line

What Causes a Sore Pharynx?

A sore throat is a feeling of irritation in the back of the throat. It tin vary from balmy to severe, and may feel like:

  • Minor itching.
  • Rawness.
  • Called-for pain.
  • Crude, sandpaper-like scratching.
  • Sharp pains, like swallowing glass.

A sore throat can be caused by a multitude of things, from environmental irritants to viruses to pregnancy hormones.

Hither are some of the most common causes of a sore throat during pregnancy:

  • Viruses: The vast majority of sore throats are caused by viruses, which are also the culprits responsible for the common common cold and seasonal flu. Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections, which usually just have to run their course over five to seven days.

    Some viruses are more severe than others. 1 way to minimize your chances of getting the flu is to get your annual flu shot at the beginning of your pregnancy, which will protect you and your babe. Pregnant women are more severely affected past the flu, and this can cause complications during pregnancy. The flu can even crusade preterm delivery and low birth weight in some instances (1).

    Headshot of Dr. Njoud Jweihan, MD

    Editor's Note:

    Dr. Njoud Jweihan, MD

  • Leaner: Bacterial infections can too cause a sore pharynx, and these tin be treated with prescription antibiotics. Strep pharynx is one of the most common types of bacterial infections accompanied by a sore pharynx. One of the hallmarks of strep throat is a white coating or white spots on the dorsum of the throat forth with a high fever. Keep in mind that it is extremely important to finish your course of antibiotics — even if you lot are starting to feel ameliorate. Antibody resistance caused by insufficient handling tin lead to more than infections with even stronger bacteria (2).
  • Ecology irritants: There are many things that can irritate your throat and nasal passages, causing discomfort. These include dry out air, dust, pollen or other allergens, smoke, and chemicals. If an environmental irritant causes your sore throat, the best way to treat it is to avoid the source of your irritation. If your dwelling is dry, endeavor running a humidifier to moisten the air.
  • Postnasal drip: As your sinuses drain, the mucus drips down the dorsum of your pharynx, which can be extremely irritating and tin can cause a chronic cough. This is ofttimes a secondary symptom afterwards dealing with a bacterial or viral infection of the sinuses (three).
  • A weaker immune system: During pregnancy, your allowed system lowers its force to protect your babe from any attack by your body. This causes your body to exist more susceptible to all sorts of infections.
  • Pregnancy hormones: Cheers to fluctuating hormones, your body can feel several oral symptoms, including dry mouth, excessive thirst, and sore throat. If this is the cause of your sore throat, at that place are few medical options bachelor, and you lot can instead focus on measures to increase your comfort with safety warm beverages and lozenges.
  • Acid Reflux: Acid reflux occurs when the contents of the tum, including stomach acids, back up into the esophagus. Acid reflux causes a number of symptoms, ane of the secondary symptoms beingness a sore throat. Information technology is mutual during pregnancy, thanks to both a slower digestive procedure and a compressed digestive system (iv). Information technology is primarily due to one of the main pregnancy hormones, progesterone. This hormone has been shown to relax the muscles in your esophagus — the rails the food travels downwards to the stomach. In turn, information technology is easier for food to be brought back up causing the symptoms of acid reflux that resemble the irritation and called-for of a sore throat.

Is a Sore Pharynx Dangerous During Pregnancy?

A sore pharynx solitary is not dangerous during pregnancy. While information technology is a common symptom of many uncomfortable ailments, serious complications are rare. Always check with your doctor for reassurance and precaution.

When Should I See a Doctor for My Sore Throat?

While a sore throat is non unsafe, there are some occasions when you lot should check in with your doctor.

  • Fever: Y'all should contact your doctor if your sore pharynx is accompanied by a fever of 100 degrees or higher — peculiarly if the fever sets in after you've already had a sore throat for a few days. A high temperature can betoken a condition that may demand medical treatment, and a prolonged elevated temperature can exist harmful to your infant (5).
  • Suspected flu: If your sore pharynx is accompanied past fever, chills, and a astringent sense of malaise that came on rather apace, it could be the influenza. The flu presents a particular danger to pregnant women, merely the adept news is there are antiviral drugs available for some types of influenza. Tamiflu is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for use during pregnancy, just it is most effective if started within the beginning 48 hours of disease onset (6). And then, if you doubtable the flu, don't wait — caput to your doc right away for testing.
  • Rash: If a skin rash accompanies your sore throat, contact your dr.. Information technology could bespeak a more severe disease that needs appropriate medical handling.
  • Strep Throat: If your sore pharynx comes on suddenly and severely, you may have strep throat. Strep pharynx is frequently accompanied by white or red spots in the back of the throat, only a culture at your doctor'south office tin confirm.

Many patients think that the bacteria that causes strep throat is the same leaner that the doctor checks for effectually week 36 of pregnancy, or Grouping B Strep bacteria, which can spread to your baby from the vaginal or rectal area. Still, they are not the aforementioned bacteria, and there is no need to worry. In fact, the bacteria from strep throat will not spread to your babe.

Headshot of Dr. Njoud Jweihan, MD

Editor'southward Notation:

Dr. Njoud Jweihan, MD

Strep pharynx is easily treated with antibiotics, and your doctor will likely give you a prescription if you lot're diagnosed with it. The antibiotic is a good idea to help prevent some of the complications of strep throat that tin can crop up, such as kidney problems and rheumatic fever.

What Types of Remedies Should I Avoid While Significant?

Several mutual remedies should be strictly avoided while significant, including:

  • Aspirin.
  • Ibuprofen.
  • Caffeinated teas.
  • Vitamin C supplements: Vitamin C supplements marketed to heave immunity (similar the brand proper noun "Emergen-C") are typically safe for consumption. While it may be tempting to use these products to ward off a larger common cold at the first sign of a sore throat, information technology's best to check with your physician starting time — especially since your prenatal vitamin should already contain Vitamin C.
  • Zinc lozenges: Equally is the case with Vitamin C, your prenatal vitamins give y'all all the vitamins and minerals y'all need during pregnancy, so taking more tin can cause you lot to take likewise much. Check with your doctor about whether you can have zinc lozenges to stave off a cold — and if there's any question, skip it.

What Medications Tin I Take While Pregnant?

Some medicines are safe for use during pregnancy, every bit long as yous follow proper dosing instructions. Ever check with your dr. prior to taking medications to brand certain they hold the medication you lot cull will complement your obstetric intendance:

  • Antibiotics: Since a doc must prescribe these, your dr. will choose ane that is safe for employ during pregnancy. Antibiotics that tin exist used are cephalexin, amoxicillin, and penicillin.
  • Acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol): Use Tylenol sparingly. While it has been determined to exist condom for pregnancy, overuse has been linked to liver damage (vii).
  • Cough drops.
  • Throat sprays.
  • Antacids: If your sore throat is acquired by acid reflux, antacids such equally Tums or Rolaids are safety to use. Even so, cull ones that contain calcium carbonate over sodium bicarbonate equally they can cause water memory (8).

How Tin can I Treat a Sore Throat While Pregnant?

If you lot're experiencing a sore throat while meaning, in that location are several things you can do.

1. Accept Your Temperature.

Before treating your sore throat, brand sure you are not running a fever. A fever is any temperature to a higher place 100 degrees, which can bespeak there is an infection in your trunk that needs to be treated.

A high fever during pregnancy can be dangerous for your baby, particularly in the first trimester, and should exist monitored past a doc (9).

ii. Take Tylenol.

Tylenol is by and large considered safety for utilize during pregnancy. If your sore pharynx is severe, you may take Tylenol, or generic acetaminophen, for pain relief.

three. Gargle with Salt Water.

Gargling with warm table salt water can help articulate your throat of irritants and loosen the fungus. The salt is as well soothing and helps to draw out excess wet.

To gargle, add 1/two teaspoon of salt to a loving cup of warm — not hot — water, and mix it until dissolved. Take a sip, tip your caput back, and irrigate then the mixture reaches as far dorsum in your throat equally possible.

Gargle for virtually a minute, and so spit out the salt water.

4. Drinkable Tea with Lemon.

It can be hard to drink adequate liquids when you lot have a sore throat. Choosing hot, soothing drinks volition not merely keep you lot hydrated but can help to sparse and loosen irritating fungus in the back of the throat.

Herbal teas are a popular choice during pregnancy because they are naturally decaffeinated. Nevertheless, information technology's important to note that many herbs likewise take medicinal properties and, in sure quantities, may be harmful.

Considering these herbs are non regulated by the FDA and are non widely studied, there is little agreement in the medical customs about what is safe and what is non. Check with your dr. about whatever herbal teas you plan to consume. Avert teas that contain cinnamon, licorice, chamomile and cerise raspberry leaf specially in the first trimester.

5. Utilize Throat Lozenges or Pharynx Sprays.

Throat lozenges and throat sprays are generally safe for utilize during pregnancy, and then feel gratis to use them to glaze your throat. Some also have menthol to help relieve other cold symptoms, and most throat sprays have antiseptic in them to aid numb your throat from the pain.

If choosing a multi-symptom pharynx lozenge, brand sure you need all the treatments listed; if not, opt for a unmarried-use lozenge, such as i that only soothes the pharynx. Choosing a multi-symptom lozenge when you don't accept a cold that needs treating can cause you to over-medicate.

Avoid zinc lozenges that are designed to fight a cold rather than merely soothe symptoms.

Always check with your doctor before taking whatsoever medication — fifty-fifty if it is over the counter.

6. Rest.

When you lot're pregnant, your immunity is not up to par.

Rather than being suppressed, your immune organisation is weaker — meaning your torso has to piece of work harder to fight off bacteria and viruses. One of best things y'all tin do to help your immune system role properly is to get adequate remainder, allowing your body to utilize its free energy to fight off the problems.

Headshot of Dr. Njoud Jweihan, MD

Editor's Note:

Dr. Njoud Jweihan, Doc


The Lesser Line

A sore throat can be incredibly uncomfortable during pregnancy, but the skilful news is it'due south rarely serious. More often than not — every bit long as information technology's not accompanied past fever — a sore throat is simply the result of a common cold virus or ecology irritants.

Notwithstanding, always check with your doctor earlier taking any medication — fifty-fifty if it is over the counter.

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Source: https://momlovesbest.com/sore-throat-during-pregnancy

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