Pneumonia in pregnant women: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment features and advice from gynecologists

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

If the expectant mother detects unpleasant symptoms such as cough, sore throat or sore throat, fever, you should immediately consult a doctor. A timely visit to a medical institution will allow you to stop a cold as soon as possible and prevent the occurrence of a more serious illness - pneumonia, the consequences of which can be very serious.

Many expectant mothers are interested in what to do if you still failed to protect the vulnerable body from the disease, how to treat pneumonia in pregnant women? And what preventive measures should be taken to avoid getting sick?

Types of pneumonia

First of all, it should be noted that pneumonia can be of several types. This disease may have a secondary origin, forming as a complication after SARS and influenza. In this case, pneumonia develops in the process of activation of opportunistic flora.

Primary pneumonias are also possible, the cause of which are microbes of a speci altype, as well as chlamydia and viruses, fungi. Initially, against the background of SARS or acute respiratory infections, the upper respiratory tract is affected. After some time, the infection descends through the bronchi and reaches the lung tissue. As a result of the pathological process, inflammation occurs.

Klebsiella, a pneumonia caused by a harmful bacterium of the same name, occurs in severe form in pregnant women. An equally dangerous form of the disease is viral, in which the lung tissue is affected by the influenza pathogen.

Diagnosis of pneumonia in pregnant women

At the first appearance of a cold or flu, the expectant mother should immediately contact a medical facility. A doctor may suspect pneumonia by noticing symptoms of pneumonia in pregnant women such as coughing, rapid development of fever.

Confirmation of the diagnosis is possible only after several studies. The diagnosis can be confirmed after several consecutive medical procedures. First, in a polyclinic, a microscopic examination of sputum is performed. This is followed by a sputum culture study. A mandatory study is a complete blood count.

In case of urgent need, a chest x-ray may be needed. The expectant mother needs to understand that radiation exposure can adversely affect the fetus. That is why before starting the procedure, it is necessary to warn the specialist about pregnancy. The radiologist will give the woman a special metal screen that does not let in radiation.

Reasons

During pregnancy, the body of the fair sex is weakened and exposed to harmful microorganisms and substances. The risk of pneumonia increases significantly if the body is exposed to provoking factors such as:

• unhe althy lifestyle, bad habits;
• presence of chronic lung disease;
• diseases of the endocrine system;
• conditions characterized by immunodeficiency;
• heart failure;
• long stay in a horizontal position.

Recently previously undergone surgical interventions in the chest or abdominal cavity may be a provoking factor.

Symptoms

Common signs of pneumonia in pregnant women include:

• chest pain, dry then wet cough;
• pale skin;
• severe shortness of breath;
• cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle;
• headache;
• fatigue;
• general weakness of the body;
• increased body temperature;
• fever or chills.

Pneumonia can appear absolutely at any time.

Treatment

Treatment of pneumonia in a pregnant woman should be prescribed by a local therapist. If the disease is severe, it may be necessary to consult other specialists, primarily pulmonologists.

Treatment can take place both at home and within the walls of a hospital. The doctor assesses the condition of the pregnant patient, asks about living conditions and daily routine. This is necessary so that the specialist can assess how appropriate treatment at home is. If the doctor allows a woman who is expecting a child to be treated at home, some nuances and recommendations must be observed. Pneumonia in pregnant women is a serious disease. That is why a sick woman should be under the daily supervision of a specialist.

A future mother should not have chronic diseases. In addition, home treatment is only possible if the pneumonia is characterized by a mild course. At this time, it is better to abandon the usual household chores.

Until the 22nd week of pregnancy, the treatment of the fair sex, who is waiting for the birth of a baby, takes place in therapeutic hospitals. After the 22nd week, a woman is assigned to an obstetric hospital, where her condition is monitored not only by a general practitioner, but also by a gynecologist. If the disease is severe, the expectant mother is hospitalized in the intensive care unit.

As a rule, doctors prescribe a course of antibiotics to cope with the disease. The drug is selected taking into account pregnancy and depending on the effect on the fetus. The dosage is determined by the doctor. The specialist takes into account the severity of the disease and other features of the course of pneumonia.

If the disease is severe, the specialist may prescribe a combination of certain drugs, as well asimmunostimulants, detoxification therapy, expectorant and mucolytic drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs.

Permitted medicines

Despite the interesting situation, doctors prescribe drugs. The features of the female body, as well as the duration of pregnancy and the nuances of its course are taken into account. The dosage of therapeutic agents is determined by the doctor. The specialist tries to prescribe the safest drugs so that as a result of pneumonia in pregnant women, the consequences for the child are minimal.

To facilitate sputum discharge and its rapid removal, the doctor may prescribe medications such as ACC, Ambrobene. An effective remedy is Hexoral, which contains exclusively herbal ingredients.

To strengthen the immune system of the future mother's body and maintain internal resources, as a rule, the therapist prescribes a complex of vitamins. To exclude the possibility of allergic reactions to the antibiotic, the specialist strongly recommends that the treatment be accompanied by the use of drugs such as Zirtek, Erius, Fenistil. The last resort is approved for children from one year of age.

To prevent the risk of developing placental insufficiency, doctors prescribe drugs "Actovegin" or "Riboxin". If the body temperature of the pregnant woman is normal, regular inhalations with saline will be useful.

An excellent addition to the described preparations will be breathing exercises. Exercises can be advised by a gynecologist. It is not recommended to perform exercises without consulting a specialist.

Recipes of traditional medicine

Some expectant mothers, trying to avoid taking drugs, choose traditional medicine. Women prepare various herbal decoctions, and also conduct regular inhalations, breathe over potatoes or over onions. Expectant mothers use a mixture of dried figs and milk to treat viral pneumonia.

The fair sex in an interesting position should understand that in some cases, treatment with folk remedies is not enough to completely cope with the disease. It often happens that "grandmother's" recipes only help get rid of unpleasant symptoms, but do not eliminate the source. Untreated pneumonia has serious consequences for both mother and child.

Doctors strongly recommend the use of traditional medicine in combination with drugs. Before using this or that recipe, it is imperative to consult not only with a therapist, but also with a gynecologist.

Consequences for mom and baby

Women in position are interested in what consequences for the child arise as a result of pneumonia in pregnant women. And can the disease cause premature birth.

The most deplorable consequence of pneumonia can be a total defeat of the lung tissue with a fatal outcome.

Pneumonia is notmay cause abortion and does not require preterm delivery.

The disease can serve as the beginning of the formation of gangrene of the lung and cavities with purulent contents. As a result of the disease, ventilation of the lungs can be disturbed, respiratory failure occurs. This, in turn, leads to hypoxia of the mother's body and great suffering in the womb of the fetus.

The expectant mother needs to understand that the above consequences are possible only if the appeal to a specialist was untimely, the disease was started for some reason. If you turn to the doctor for advice and treatment in time, the woman's body will be able to overcome pneumonia without harm to the fetus and expectant mother.

Possible Complications

Complications with different types of pneumonia can be of two types: extrapulmonary and pulmonary. The first group includes myocarditis, acute cardiopulmonary failure, as well as psychosis, sepsis and meningitis. Pulmonary complications include pleurisy, pulmonary gangrene, purulent cavities, and acute respiratory failure.

Prevention

The best means of preventing pneumonia in pregnant women is a he althy lifestyle. Proper nutrition and the rejection of bad habits will help strengthen the body's immune systems, reduce the risk of viral, infectious and bacterial diseases. Walking in the fresh air will be useful not only for a woman, but also for her baby. Living rooms should be regularly ventilated.

Effective preventivebreathing exercises are a measure of the onset of pneumonia. Regular implementation of these, among other things, will help improve the emotional state of the expectant mother.

Breathing exercises

Some of the most effective breathing exercises to improve immunity and reduce the risk of pneumonia should be shared.

1. Stand up straight and inhale the air, standing on your toes. Breathing should be held for a few seconds. After that, you need to exhale through your nose and slowly lower yourself onto your heels.
2. Stand up straight and breathe in three small breaths. With the first, you need to stretch your arms in front of you, with the second - spread apart at shoulder level, with the third - raise your limbs up. Finally, exhale vigorously.
3. Stand up straight and grasp your shoulders with your fingertips. Take a breath and hold your breath for a few seconds. At this time, connect the elbows and spread apart. Repeat the manipulations three or four times, then exhale vigorously, slightly opening your mouth.

These are the most popular exercises. For effective prevention, you need to regularly perform them at home.

How does labor progress with pneumonia?

In some cases, labor begins before the woman is completely cured. In such situations, if the birth proceeds naturally, and not by caesarean section, the expectant mother needs epidural anesthesia. The birth process should be accompanied by oxygen therapy.

Gynecologists during the delivery period carry out regular full monitoring of the fetus, which, against the background of the mother's illness, suffers from hypoxia. After childbirth, the treatment of the woman continues. At this time, breastfeeding is prohibited while taking medication and in order to prevent infection of the baby.

Conclusion

Pneumonia in pregnancy is a very serious illness. It is important to immediately consult a doctor when the first symptoms are detected in order to “not start” the disease and avoid unpleasant consequences. Self-treatment without the help of specialists can lead to disastrous consequences, aggravating the course of pneumonia.