Tonsillitis During Pregnancy: Treatment In Women, Consequences For The Fetus

2024 Author: Rachel Wainwright | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 07:39

Tonsillitis during pregnancy: treatment, consequences

The content of the article:

Tonsillitis causes
Symptoms of tonsillitis during pregnancy
Treatment of tonsillitis during pregnancy
1. Rinses
2. Inhalation
Consequences of tonsillitis during pregnancy
Prevention of tonsillitis
Video

Tonsillitis during pregnancy is a rather serious disease that poses a threat to the health of not only the mother, but also her baby. The woman's immunity weakens during this period, pathogenic microorganisms quickly penetrate the body, causing inflammation. Therefore, treatment should be carried out only under the supervision of a physician.

Tonsillitis is a health hazard to both the mother and the fetus

Tonsillitis is an infectious disease in which the inflammatory process affects the tonsils. Since the fetus is half a foreign organism, in order to keep the baby, the immune system of the expectant mother begins to work differently.

There are two periods when the immunity of a pregnant woman is sharply reduced, these are 6-8 and 20-28 weeks. At this time, very often a woman has unpleasant symptoms indicating the development of tonsillitis.

Tonsillitis causes

In most cases, tonsillitis is caused by an infection during pregnancy. Pathogenic microbes enter a woman's body by airborne droplets or by contact. They penetrate the mucous membrane, causing inflammation.

Most often the disease is caused by bacteria and viruses, in particular adenovirus

The causative agents of tonsillitis can be:

viruses (adenoviruses, coronaviruses, influenza or herpes virus);
bacteria (staphylococcus, streptococcus, pneumococcus);
mushrooms (candida).

The following factors contribute to the development of the disease:

hypothermia of the body;
a weakened immune system;
bad habits;
chronic diseases.

Symptoms of tonsillitis during pregnancy

The following symptoms indicate that a pregnant woman develops tonsillitis:

a sore throat. At the initial stage of the disease, there is a sensation of a foreign object in the throat and slight difficulty in swallowing. In the future, painful sensations arise, which intensify over time. Sometimes the sore throat when swallowing food becomes so severe that the woman refuses to eat;
redness and swelling of the mucous membrane as a result of an inflammatory reaction;
enlargement of the cervical lymph nodes. They can be the size of a quail egg. At the initial stage of the disease, the lymph nodes are soft, later they harden, while in this area there is pain;
the presence of purulent plugs and pus in the lacunae. It is observed with purulent tonsillitis caused by bacteria;
increased body temperature. In some cases, tonsillitis can cause the temperature to rise up to 40 ° C. In this case, a woman may develop confusion, chills, headache;
weakness, lethargy, dizziness, general fatigue.

In some cases, tonsillitis causes pain in the joints, muscles and lower back.

Catarrhal sore throat, which is the mildest form of the disease, resolves within 2-3 days with proper treatment. In the lacunar and follicular form, the symptoms persist for a week.

Treatment of tonsillitis during pregnancy

Most of all, young parents are interested in the question of how to treat tonsillitis during pregnancy so as not to harm the child. At the initial stage, such means as Tantum Verde, Lisobakt, Tonsipret give a good effect. They allow you to eliminate the inflammatory process, without having a negative impact.

At the beginning of therapy, the use of local drugs is effective, for example Lisobact

To lower body temperature, paracetamol-based products are used. They can be taken during pregnancy as they are found to be safe.

If the disease is caused by a bacterial infection, then antibiotics are indispensable. Most often, drugs from the group of penicillins (Augmentin, Amoxiclav) in the form of tablets are used to treat tonsillitis during pregnancy. Antibiotic therapy is selected by the physician based on the safety profile.

In severe forms of the disease, antibiotics from the group of cephalosporins (Ceftriaxone, Emssef, Efmerin) are used, they are prescribed in the form of injections. In the complex treatment, drugs are prescribed to restore the microflora in the intestine (Linex, Laktovit).

Rinses

As part of the complex therapy of both acute and chronic forms of tonsillitis, rinses are used:

saline solution. For its preparation, one teaspoon of sea salt is dissolved in 200 ml of warm water, filtered and rinsed every 3-4 hours. If tonsillitis is caused by a fungal infection, add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to a glass of saline;
chamomile broth. To prepare it, 200 ml of water is poured into 1 tablespoon of chamomile flowers and boiled over low heat for 3 minutes. After the broth has cooled, it is filtered and used 2-4 times a day. Instead of chamomile, you can use sage, calendula, eucalyptus;
decoction of oak bark. This remedy works well for tonsillitis caused by a fungal infection. To prepare the broth, pour 1 teaspoon of oak bark with water and boil for five minutes. After the agent is infused, it is filtered and used as directed;
honey solution. Honey is a good antiseptic, it works against pathogens, helps to reduce inflammation and eliminate edema. To prepare a solution for gargling, dissolve 20 ml of natural apple cider vinegar and 1 teaspoon of honey in 200 ml of warm water. The procedure is carried out 3-4 times a day, until the symptoms of the disease are relieved;
infusion of chamomile. A safe remedy to help reduce inflammation and sore throat. For its preparation, the flowers of the plant are poured with boiling water and filtered after cooling. Can be applied every three hours.

In the treatment of tonsillitis, folk remedies can be used - honey and aloe

In order to reduce inflammation and relieve pain, you can use safe and effective remedies at home:

aloe with honey. To prepare the medicine, the aloe leaf is cut off in the evening and left in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning it is crushed and mixed with honey in a ratio of 1: 1. It is necessary to dissolve 1/2 teaspoon of the product three times a day;
honey with lemon. This medicine quickly relieves the symptoms of the disease. To prepare it, two lemons are peeled and crushed, 150 g of honey and a little lemon peel are added. After the mixture has stood overnight in the refrigerator, it is taken 1 teaspoon after each meal;
butter with honey. The product has emollient, enveloping and anti-inflammatory properties and helps to relieve sore throat. A small piece of fresh unsalted butter is mixed with honey and kept in the mouth until completely dissolved. It is necessary to prepare such a medicine immediately before use.

Inhalation

In order to eliminate the inflammatory process and alleviate the condition with tonsillitis, inhalation is carried out using a nebulizer. This is a device that sprays medicine into small particles.

As part of the complex treatment, drugs for inhalation use are prescribed

The following medicines may be used during pregnancy:

Dekasan. The drug has antimicrobial effect. When inhaled with a nebulizer, very small particles of the active substance enter the area of inflammation and have a local effect. With this method of administration, the agent practically does not penetrate into the blood and does not have a systemic effect, therefore it cannot cause any harm to the fetus. In some cases, the use of the drug allows you to avoid the appointment of antibiotic therapy;
Chlorophyllipt. Chlorophylls of eucalyptus have antibacterial properties. The drug is prescribed in the event that the causative agent of the disease is staphylococcus aureus. For inhalations, an alcohol solution of Chlorophyllipt is used (you cannot pour oil solutions into the nebulizer). It is preliminarily bred with saline. The drug does not enter the bloodstream and does not affect the fetus;
Borjomi mineral water. Inhalation with slightly alkaline water moisturizes the mucous membrane of the oropharynx and can reduce the inflammatory process. The procedures can be carried out up to 4 times a day, they are absolutely safe for the fetus.

For warm-wet inhalation, you can use essential oils

According to reviews, warm-moist inhalations with essential oils give a good effect. To do this, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil, tea tree, fir, oregano or Siberian pine to 200 ml of boiling water. After the product has cooled to a comfortable temperature, you need to bend over the container, having previously thrown a terry towel over your head.

Consequences of tonsillitis during pregnancy

Tonsillitis is a fairly serious disease. At an early stage of pregnancy, it can lead to increased toxicosis, and in severe cases, to miscarriage. Since the fetus is associated with the mother's placenta, there is a threat of intrauterine infection, which leads to abnormalities in the development of the fetus.

In late pregnancy, tonsillitis can cause gestosis, which, in turn, will lead to increased edema, seizures, and premature birth. In severe cases, this pathology can cause death of the mother and fetus.

If the treatment of tonsillitis was not started on time, the disease can become chronic and be a constant source of infection in the body. In this case, exacerbations will periodically occur, accompanied by unpleasant symptoms.

Tonsillitis caused by a bacterial infection often causes diseases of the musculoskeletal system, can provoke myocarditis or pyelonephritis.

Prevention of tonsillitis

Compliance with preventive measures is especially important during pregnancy.

Moderate physical activity is indicated for the prevention of the disease.

In order to prevent the disease, you must:

eat properly. The diet of a pregnant woman must necessarily contain: lean meat, cereals, vegetable oil, fish and food rich in coarse fiber. You also need vegetables and fruits, which are a source of vitamins;
do physical education. Moderate physical activity, yoga or long walks in the fresh air contribute to strengthening the immune system;
treat chronic diseases in time. Normally, a woman, even before the onset of pregnancy, should pass all the necessary tests, treat chronic diseases and visit a dentist in order to make sure that there is no caries;
avoid crowds. Since most of the viruses and bacteria that become the causative agent of tonsillitis are transmitted by airborne droplets, a pregnant woman should avoid crowded places, especially in the autumn-winter period, which is the peak of the disease;
avoid stressful situations. Stressful loads negatively affect the state of the immune system, therefore, a pregnant woman needs to take care of psychological comfort.

If, despite prevention, tonsillitis during pregnancy still could not be avoided, do not despair. There are many medications that can help you cope with the disease. It is imperative to start treating the disease on time.

It is not worth prescribing medication for yourself on your own, it should be done by an ENT or a therapist after a face-to-face consultation. With proper and timely treatment and following all the doctor's recommendations, the disease will recede in 3-7 days.