Nose DisordersPregnancy

Tips to treat sinusitis in pregnancy

To treat sinusitis in pregnancy, it is necessary to wash the nostrils with serum several times a day and inhale steam of hot water. It may also be necessary to use medications such as antibiotics and corticosteroids, which should only be taken as directed by the otolaryngologist so as not to harm the development of the baby.

sinusitis in pregnancy

Symptoms of sinusitis in pregnancy

Sinusitis during pregnancy can be detected by the presence of some characteristic symptoms, among which we have:

  • Strong pains in the frontal region, in the eye sockets and nasal passages.
  • Congestion in the nasal passages, which lasts more than five days.
  • Persistent nasal secretions of yellow or greenish color, and in some cases with unpleasant odor.
  • High fevers due to allergic reaction or infection.
  • Respiratory insufficiency.
  • Pressure in the eyes.
  • Mild pain in the ears.
  • Dry cough at night.
  • Lack of appetite.
  • Gradual decrease in olfactory capacity.
  • Appearance of unpleasant odors in the nose and throat.

To treat sinusitis during pregnancy you should choose to perform a home treatment and follow the recommendations below:

1. Using a Nebulizer

The woman can nebulize herself with a device called a nebulizer, breathing the steam of an herbal tea like eucalyptus or breathing the steam that is produced when the hot shower is opened. The nebulization should be done 2 to 3 times a day for approximately 20 minutes, especially in the morning and before going to sleep.

  • Nebulizations with saline: 5 to 10 ml of saline should be placed in the nebulizer cup, the mask should be placed near the nose and the vapor should be breathed in until the liquid disappears completely;
  • Steam nebulization: Just close yourself in the bathroom and let the shower water fall hot to generate a lot of steam, inhaling it for about 20 minutes;
  • Misting with herbs: It is necessary to boil water and prepare a tea of chamomile, eucalyptus or orange peel with lemon and inspire the steam for about 20 minutes, keeping the face 8 cm from the container. The tea should be placed in a cup, placed on a table and sit on the chair, leaning slightly to inspire steam.

These natural methods to treat acute or chronic sinusitis help to unclog the airways, facilitating breathing.

2. Place Serum

The woman should wash both nostrils with serum at least 2 to 3 times a day to eliminate secretions that hinder breathing. For what is due:

  • Use saline, which can be purchased at the pharmacy or prepare a saline solution at home. Learn how to prepare a saline solution for sinusitis;
  • Introduce 5 to 10 ml of the solution in one nostril and then in another, through a blunt syringe or nasal irrigator;
  • Blow the nose to remove secretions.

Generally nasal lavage with serum is more effective after a nebulization, since the secretions are even more fluid and it is easier to eliminate them.

3. Blowing your nose

To avoid the accumulation of secretions, the pregnant woman should blow her nose with a soft handkerchief, whenever necessary, not only cleaning the syringe of the nose.

If you have to do it many times, the woman can apply a healing cream on the nose to prevent the formation of wounds due to friction.

4. Drink plenty of fluids

The pregnant woman with sinusitis should drink at least 2 liters of water or tea without sugar. A good tea for sinusitis is oregano tea, since its herbs help relieve coughs and phlegm.

The woman should choose to take this tea before bedtime, as the cough attacks are more intense at night.

Does sinusitis in pregnancy affect the baby?

Many women have the false belief that sinusitis is a disease that does not cause major complications to the baby. But, it is necessary to consider that sinusitis is very dangerous for the health and the correct development of the child.

Sinusitis is very dangerous, especially during the first trimester of pregnancy, because the child is not protected by the placenta and all important organs are at risk. This infectious process can cause abortion or the development of congenital defects in the fetus.

In this first stage, the treatment of the disease is very delicate, which is why specialized medical attention is essential.

In the second and third trimester infections can cause neurological damage to the baby and sinusitis during the third trimester can lead to premature delivery.

However, all these risks are minimized with early diagnosis and treatment in the early stages of sinusitis.

Prevention

In order to reduce the risk of sinusitis, pregnant women should take the following preventive measures into account:

  • It is very important to protect yourself from colds. Some aspects to achieve such as: you must reduce attendance to crowded places, thus reducing the use of public transport.
  • It is recommended that you frequent outdoor walks.
  • You must provide adequate ventilation to your room and humidify the air.
  • Keep in mind during your pregnancy not to come in contact with sick people.
  • Limit to the maximum possible contact with allergies like pets, plants and others.
  • Perform wet cleanings in the room.
  • Wash the nasal cavity frequently with saline or herbal solution in order to clean the mucous membrane of pathogens.
  • Strengthen the immune system. For this you need daily exercise, take prenatal vitamins and maintain proper hygiene.
  • Prevent lesions in dental tissues, due to the ease with which the infection spreads rapidly from the mouth to the nose. If you have any discomfort, you should immediately consult your dentist.
  • Specialized diet. You should include cooked meat and fish, steamed vegetables and fruits, milk, cereals and soups in your daily diet. Avoid the sweets and soft drinks. As for drinks, you can eat fruit juices and herbal infusions with lemon and honey.
  • To prevent the development of pregnancy, medical monitoring by a specialist is important.

Recommendation

Depending on the frequency and severity of the symptoms, you should go to the doctor to assess the severity of the problem and prescribe the treatment that consider most convenient.

Generally, these treatments are based on medications and therapies without contraindications and that have no side effects. However, the doctor will determine your condition and determine what is most appropriate for your health and that of your baby.

In summary, strictly following the medical indications and practicing the basic prevention methods to avoid sinusitis during pregnancy is enough to keep this discomfort under control.