What is the danger of a cold on the lips for our body and how to properly treat it? Feelings of a future mother

15.09.2021 Notes

Perhaps there is no such person who would not have a cold. The disease delivers a lot of unpleasant sensations, and in case of untimely or incorrect treatment, it can provoke various complications. This is especially dangerous when talking about a pregnant woman, because then two are at risk - the expectant mother and her unborn baby. Many do not know how dangerous a cold during pregnancy is, and what to do to avoid an insidious illness during this crucial period.

Danger of colds

To begin with, it is worth mentioning that often a cold during pregnancy is inevitable. This is facilitated by the temperate climate of our country, provoking annual outbreaks of viral infections, especially at the junction of the seasons - in late autumn or early spring. In addition, do not forget that in modern society it is impossible to live without constant contact with strangers who may be carriers of respiratory infections. It is impossible to minimize communication during pregnancy, so it is worth finding out why a cold is dangerous in the early stages of pregnancy, as well as in the second and third trimester.

Important! A cold or flu, transferred shortly before conception, will not adversely affect the development of the fetus and its bearing, however, it will significantly reduce the woman's immunity. Therefore, when planning a pregnancy, it is worth postponing conception for 2-3 months after suffering an acute respiratory viral infection.

First trimester

In the first trimester, the laying and development of all organs of the fetus takes place. Any negative factor can cause a malfunction in the formation and lead to a violation of the development of the embryo. A cold can become such a factor, regardless of what it is caused by - ordinary hypothermia or a virus. And in fact, and in another case, this is a condition of a pregnant woman, threatening, against the background of reduced immunity, with a deterioration in the well-being of the expectant mother and the possible development of complications. And any complication in pregnant women is much more difficult to cure, because not every drug is allowed for therapy at this time.

In addition to colds, rubella is a danger to pregnant women, the symptoms of which can be confused with the common cold. With rubella, lymph nodes also increase, cough and runny nose appear. The only distinguishing feature is a rash on the body, but sometimes it is almost invisible or can be mistaken for an allergic reaction.

The common cold can be overcome with bed rest and traditional medicine. However, do not forget that the medicinal herbs, from which medicinal infusions and decoctions are prepared, are not suitable for every pregnant woman, and the reason for this is the scourge of our modernity - allergies. In addition, a cold can cause complications very quickly. With complications, a mild runny nose turns into acute sinusitis, a sore throat provokes follicular sore throat, and bronchitis can develop into pneumonia. With the listed possible diseases, the choice of drugs is limited, and the doctor is forced to carefully select drugs in order not to harm the health of the unborn child.

There is a danger of termination of pregnancy when, before the delay in menstruation in the first or second week after conception, the woman still does not know about her interesting situation. The traditional set of medicines used to treat colds or flu can cause early miscarriage or mutations in the development of the embryo. Of course, it would be ideal if it was possible to clearly plan the beginning of pregnancy for a safe period when the threat of colds is minimal. But in real life it is almost impossible.

A cold during pregnancy is dangerous and its consequences can adversely affect the health of the fetus. However, in case of illness, you should not panic - for the unborn child, a good mood and a positive attitude of the mother are much more important. At the first symptoms of malaise, you need to immediately see a doctor who will make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment. And timely assistance to the body in the fight against infection will help to avoid complications.

Second trimester

The danger of colds during pregnancy in the second trimester is significantly reduced, because the little man is already formed. But you should not relax, because a viral infection can lead to placental insufficiency, characterized by dysfunction of the placenta, or fetal hypoxia, in which the unborn child experiences oxygen starvation.

Lack of nutrients and oxygen, in turn, can cause disruption of labor and, as a result, premature birth.

During a cold that begins in the second trimester, the nervous system of the fetus is at risk - it is at this time that it is actively developing. Reckless medication and a severe course of the disease can lead to the fact that the baby will appear early with a low weight.

Third trimester

Expectant mothers often ask the question: "Is a cold during pregnancy dangerous when there are 2-3 months left before the baby is born?" Definitely yes. In the third trimester, the risk of complications increases again.

miscarriage;
premature birth;
outpouring of amniotic fluid ahead of time;
large blood loss during childbirth;
complications in the postpartum period.

There is also a risk of hypoxia or fetal growth retardation syndrome. And meeting with a viral infection immediately after birth will not strengthen the baby's immunity.

Almost all women get colds during pregnancy and give birth to healthy babies. There are no statistics confirming the facts of anomalies in the development of the fetus precisely because of a cold. Therefore, when you have symptoms of a cold, you do not need to panic. If you are undergoing the treatment prescribed by the doctor, the future baby is practically not in danger. You can make sure that there are no pathologies at the first ultrasound scan, which is usually carried out for a period of 12-16 weeks.

Prevention of ARVI

A cold during pregnancy carries a fraction of the health risk for the expectant mother and her baby. To minimize possible complications, it is worth paying great attention to the prevention of colds during pregnancy.

Dress for the weather, choosing a wardrobe made from natural fabrics (cotton, wool).
Do not overheat or overcool.
Sleep at least 8 hours daily.
During seasonal epidemics, avoid crowded places and have less contact with others. During obligatory visits to the doctor or trips to the store, lubricate the nose with oxolinic ointment. After coming home, rinse the nasopharynx with a weak solution of sodium chloride (1 tsp per glass of water).
Make up the right diet, which will contain vegetables, fruits containing vitamins and minerals that help to strengthen the immune system.
Include natural phytoncides - garlic and onions in the daily menu.
As an additional prophylaxis, use aromatic oils containing antimicrobial substances (eucalyptus, tea tree or fir oil). A few drops on a lighted aroma lamp will help disinfect the room from pathogens.
Humidify the air in the apartment. It is especially important during the heating season, when the air humidity in the room is only 25-30%. It can be increased to the normal level of 50-60% only with the help of a humidifier.
In consultation with the doctor, take vitamin complex preparations that increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood and the body's defenses.
Carry out hardening procedures, for example, contrasting baths for the feet or hands.
Ventilate the room every day, even in cold autumn or winter, remembering to leave the room.
Lead an active lifestyle - daily walking should be a must. It is better to get out into the forest or park for this, so as not to breathe the polluted air of the street.
Strengthen health before the planned conception. To do this, it is useful to go to the south, but the duration of the rest should be at least 3 weeks, taking into account the time for acclimatization.
If someone from the family gets sick, he must definitely wear a mask. At the same time, one cannot use the same dishes - the patient must have his own individual set of plates and cutlery.

In principle, the rules are simple, their implementation does not require any special effort, but it will help to avoid unnecessary worries.

Cold symptoms

ARI - acute respiratory disease;
ARVI - acute respiratory viral infection;
laryngitis;
pharyngitis;
nasopharyngitis;
flu, parainfluenza;
herpes simplex.

Almost all of these diseases are accompanied by unpleasant symptoms: cough, runny nose, nasal congestion, unpleasant or painful sensations in the throat and fever. Moreover, with the flu, the body temperature rises sharply and is accompanied by weakness, headache and muscle pain, aching joints, to which a runny nose and cough join in a couple of days.

Treatment

When signs of a cold appear, first of all, you need to know that it is forbidden to "carry on your feet" the disease - it is neglect of bed rest that is the first factor provoking the development of complications. In addition, treatment should be started when a slight malaise appears - timely started therapy will help to cope with the disease in a short time and avoid more serious diseases (chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, kidney disease).

Do not hesitate to consult a doctor and take a sick leave, even if a simple runny nose appears without a fever.
Observe bed rest, especially in the first 2-3 days of illness.
Drink plenty of fluids, preferring green or raspberry tea, plain tea with honey, or cranberry juice. Moreover, the temperature of the drinks should be comfortably warm, but not hot. In the third trimester, the amount of fluid you drink will have to be controlled due to possible edema.
Increase the dose of vitamin C entering the body. For this, both vitamin-containing products (rose hips, black currants, red or green bell peppers, sea buckthorn, lemon) and multivitamins are suitable.
Do not bring down the temperature increased to 38.0-38.5 degrees - the forced decrease in temperature under the influence of medications contributes to the multiplication of the virus and prolongs the recovery period.
Do not take alcohol-based medicines such as herbal tinctures.
Refuse mustard plasters and hot foot baths - they can provoke a miscarriage.

During a cold, antibiotics should not be taken - they are useless for the treatment of acute respiratory infections or flu, but they are necessary if a bacterial infection develops. For example, sinusitis or pneumonia cannot be cured without antibiotics, but only a doctor can prescribe this or that drug, taking into account the "interesting" position of the patient.

Many women suffer from nasal breathing problems during pregnancy. This is not a pathology requiring treatment. This swelling of the nasal mucosa is caused by hormones produced in the body of the pregnant woman and disappears after childbirth. However, an accurate diagnosis can only be made by an otolaryngologist.

Folk recipes

Traditional medicine comes to the aid of pregnant women during colds. Her recipes are practically safe and effective, provided that all proportions and recommendations are observed.

Chamomile, calendula, oak bark, sage or eucalyptus are often used as a medicinal component.
Regular table salt or sea salt will help cure a sore throat. To do this, dissolve 1 tsp in a glass of warm water. salt, 1 tsp. soda and add 3-4 drops of iodine. One rinse should take at least 20-30 seconds, and the whole procedure should take about 5 minutes.
As a throat rinse, a solution of furacilin or chlorhexidine is suitable.

Dissolve 1-2 tsp in a glass of warm milk. honey and butter, mix and drink immediately, until the healing drink has cooled down.
Inhalation with essential oils of rosehip, chamomile, eucalyptus or sage, choosing the smell to your taste.
Instead of aromatic oils, you can breathe over hot potatoes boiled in a "uniform".
Even inhalation with baking soda added to hot water is helpful.

The duration of any inhalation should be 5 minutes, and after that it is necessary to go to bed. In this case, the procedure should be carried out 1-1.5 hours after a meal, and repeated at least 3-5 times a day - only then the therapeutic effect will appear. Inhalation is prohibited at elevated body temperature (above 37.5 degrees), purulent sore throat and a tendency to nosebleeds.

A runny nose is a huge discomfort. You can cope with it by rinsing the nose with soda or saline solution (1 tsp substance in a glass of warm water). During the day, the procedure must be repeated at least 4-5 times. It's not exactly pleasant, but very effective. You can use a pharmacy analogue - Aqua Maris drops, containing seawater, trace elements and eucalyptus oil. The drug helps to restore the physiological state of the nasal mucosa, liquefies mucus and facilitates its passage.

Colds during pregnancy: its danger in every trimester

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We often hear people complaining: "I got sprinkled" or "I got a cold on my lips." As a rule, herpes is hidden behind these complaints, which many become infected with in childhood. According to the WHO, almost 90% of the population is infected with one or more types of herpes, although not everyone has it. Once in the human body, this virus remains there for life. A BIG PROBLEM

In the second half of November, in many countries of the world, on the initiative of the International Herpes Alliance, Herpes Week is held. The purpose of this action is to draw people's attention to this problem.

Herpes (herpes) was first described in ancient Greece. Translated from Greek, the word "herpes" means "creeping, spreading skin disease." Currently, this chronic viral infection occurs in nine out of ten people on Earth. Presumably, on the territory of the former CIS countries, about 20 million people are infected with various forms of herpes infection annually, and mortality among viral diseases ranks second after influenza.

Of the 80 types of herpes known to modern medicine, only 9 can cause diseases in humans. The most common are herpes simplex type 1 (“cold” on the lips), type 2 (genital herpes) and type 3 (shingles , or chickenpox).

Many people face the first type of herpes - a cold sore on the lips. This virus can exist in the body without showing itself, and the disease is activated only with reduced immunity and frequent stress. It seems like this type is recognized as the most harmless, but it is worth remembering that in any case, once it gets into the body, the herpes virus remains there for life. If a person is healthy, herpes "dormant", but when immunity is weakened, it can affect large areas of the skin and mucous membranes, and if untreated, it can spread through the blood and affect the internal organs and meninges.

Genital herpes is transmitted mainly during sexual intercourse, manifesting itself as unpleasant symptoms, which causes a person's physical and moral discomfort. If the virus is in an active stage, then infection is possible with a kiss (including on the cheek), the use of common utensils, towels, and linen. A patient with herpes infection is contagious, as a rule, only during an exacerbation, that is, when a rash appears or there are other signs, which will be discussed below. Therefore, during this period, he should use individual dishes, a towel, etc. Self-infection is also possible, when the patient himself transfers the herpes virus from the focus of infection to uninfected parts of the body: face, hands, eyes, mouth, etc.

Herpes is especially dangerous for pregnant women: in the first trimester, it can cause a miscarriage or cause malformations in a child. Despite the treatment prescribed after childbirth, up to 80% of newborns with a primary episode of genital herpes in the mother die or become severely disabled.

Untreated herpes increases the risk of infertility. The herpes virus of other types is also capable of causing such serious illnesses as mononucleosis, cytomegaly, provoking diseases of the nervous system and oncological processes.

SYMPTOMS OF HERPES

The incubation period (the period from infection to the appearance of the first symptoms) - with herpes infection is 3-14 days.

Then comes the period of the harbingers of the disease. General weakness, an increase in body temperature up to 38 ° C, painful enlargement of the inguinal lymph nodes, increased frequency of urination, and muscle pain are noted. Then, after about a week, there is itching, burning, redness of the skin, as well as rashes in the form of separate vesicles with transparent and then purulent contents. After 2-4 days, the contents of the vesicles become cloudy, and they burst, forming weeping sores, which are then covered with crusts. With a favorable course of the disease, the crust disappears after 5-7 days, a stain remains in its place. Even if untreated, symptoms usually resolve on their own after 2-3 weeks.

Subsequently, in many, the disease recurs, and the time until the next relapse can range from several weeks to several years. When infected with the first type of virus, relapses occur within a year in 50%, with the second - in 90% of patients. Various factors contribute to the exacerbation of the disease: ultraviolet radiation during prolonged exposure to the sun, pregnancy, medical manipulations, excessive cooling, stressful situations, etc.

PREVENTION OF HERPES

Given the widespread prevalence of this virus and the numerous risk factors for lowering immunity in the modern world, it is worth taking the prescribed antiviral drugs seriously and not neglecting preventive measures.

In no case should you self-medicate! Abundant lubrication of the bubbles with brilliant green from herpes will not save. The disease requires complex treatment under the supervision of a specialist. And it takes at least 2-3 weeks.

Unfortunately, getting rid of herpes once and for all will not work. The only thing that can be done is to prevent exacerbations. As a rule, the disease is activated against the background of a weakened immune system, changing seasons or a sharp change in temperature. There are people who just need to freeze or overheat, and the next day they develop rashes.

Try to avoid provoking factors, strengthen the immune system! Dress for the weather, watch your diet, avoid stress. Take immunostimulants, vitamins A, C, E, PP, calcium and magnesium are good from trace elements; drink plenty of fluids. And if this does not help, then when a herpes is detected, be sure to take antiviral drugs, but only after consulting a doctor.

Today it very often happens that a woman, being in an interesting position, catches a cold. She begins to worry about how the disease will affect her fetus, because its internal organs have not even formed yet. Is it so dangerous to have a cold in early pregnancy? This is what we will talk about in this article.

general information

A common cold in early pregnancy really, as practice shows, has a small share of danger. The thing is that it is in the first weeks that the treatment of a lady is very difficult, since some medications and procedures are simply under the strictest prohibition. However, on the other hand, it is still imperative to treat the ailment, since it causes a lot of difficulties for the future woman in labor. Here, recipes from our grandmothers often come to the rescue. Experts warn that in any case, preliminary consultation is required, since even the most harmless, at first glance, medicinal herbs and decoctions can subsequently cause irreparable harm to the fetus.

Colds in early pregnancy. Danger

If you believe the statistics, in the first weeks of a fetus's life, the disease cannot cause serious damage to its health, but you cannot refuse treatment either. The thing is that a cold in the early stages of pregnancy is dangerous in its consequences. For example, inflammatory processes often occur in the genitals. In addition, it also happens that the amniotic fluid leaves the woman ahead of schedule. It happens that the baby suffers from hypoxia, and the woman herself complains of constant bleeding. In a word, a cold in the first weeks of pregnancy is dangerous for its complications, therefore, it is still necessary to treat it.

Primary symptoms

As for the issue of symptomatology, in a woman in a position, external signs are practically the same. The disease begins with redness in the throat, then the temperature may jump, and as a result, a runny nose appears. Below we will give detailed recommendations on how to cope with a cold in the first weeks.

Preventive measures

If you are very worried that a cold may appear at the beginning of pregnancy, you should protect yourself with the most common preventive measures. For example, outdoor walks are considered an excellent option. You also need to constantly monitor your diet: try to eat more fruits and vegetables. During a flu epidemic, it is not recommended to visit very crowded places (cinemas, shopping centers, hospitals, etc.), since there the threat of catching the virus is much higher. If any of your family members have a cold, you should start a course of a multivitamin complex, and always use a special protective mask.

The warm summer is behind us, and often due to sudden temperature changes we get hypothermic and become easy prey for a viral infection.

Almost no one takes a cold seriously - after all, it is not the flu or pneumonia. People do not want or cannot, due to their employment at work, comply with bed rest. They do not go to the doctor, but self-medicate. And a cold can cause a number of serious complications!

There is a saying: "The legs feed the wolf," and its main part has thoroughly entered our life. We do everything on the run, it is now customary to “walk over” even a cold. But is it really that safe?

The fact is that today it is somehow not fashionable to be ill. Not in the sense of "getting sick", but staying at home because of poor health or even outright ill health. That is, to put it simply, it is not decent to sit on sick leave. Today it is fashionable to work and earn money, but otherwise - come what may.

Therefore, even being completely disassembled, we go to work with the last bit of strength. Of course, we are not talking about any kind of performance, but the presence at the workplace is evident. And it doesn't matter that the day after this viral attack, half of the office is no different from the "culprit": a swollen nose from a persistent runny nose and coughing will become a common nightmare for the next week.

We say: just think, a cold. It would seem a trifle. A slight fever, a sore throat, a cough - what trifles! And we are very frivolous about viral infections. In fact, everything is not very rosy.

Get sick comfortably

Everyone knows that the flu carries with it a lot of complications. But even a banal ARVI poses a real threat to our health, because when experiencing it “on our feet” it quickly turns from a mild form into bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, sore throat and other unpleasant variations.

That is, in fact, it carries the same complications that were previously attributed only to the flu. Every year tens of thousands of people die from influenza in the world, and most of them are due to complications that have arisen as a result of the illness suffered "on their feet".

There is only one conclusion - if you are sick, negotiate with your superiors, take sick leave and stay at home. You should not endanger your health and the health of others with such heroism - they hardly deserve it.

Get sick comfortably and as directed by your healthcare professional. Observe bed rest. Drink plenty of liquid, it is better if it is a rosehip broth or tea with raspberries and lemon. When the temperature stays above 39 degrees for more than a day, you can take an antipyretic, if it is relatively low, you should not do it - with the help of "degrees" the body fights the infection.

Ailment - a blow to the organs

Often, as a result of untreated colds, the eyes, respiratory system, and also the hearing aid are hit.

As for the latter, colds are especially dangerous for them, because the symptoms often appear very similar, and the problems may be different.

Hearing loss, tinnitus are the first signs that the patient needs additional help. The reason for this unpleasant and dangerous condition is edema of the auditory tube. A variety of diseases can cause it. If your ears are blocked with a cold, you can first try to alleviate the condition of the auditory tube with the help of vasoconstrictor drugs. Most often these are drops that drip into the nose.
Chewing and yawning should also be imitated to help balance the pressure and relieve swelling. This is the help that everyone can provide to themselves.

But you need to remember - the first step is to find out the cause, that is, to make a diagnosis! Otherwise, very unpleasant diseases may arise with even more unpleasant consequences, up to hearing loss - otitis media, inflammation of the auditory tube and many options for the negative development of the disease.

Blind treatment is extremely hazardous to health. So, you need to remember: if you have stuffy ears with a cold, you must immediately consult a doctor. Self-medication can only aggravate the situation, since the patient may not be treated with what is needed while the disease causes irreparable damage to health. Do not forget that a cold that has not been completely cured can be very insidious and have unpredictable consequences.
What other problems arise if we don't treat a cold? Most often - sinusitis (sinusitis, frontal sinusitis) and bronchitis.

An untreated runny nose can cause complications in the form of sinusitis - inflammation of one or more paranasal sinuses. With frontal sinusitis - inflammation of the frontal paranasal sinus, the inflammation can go to the bone and cause necrosis and brain abscess. Chronic purulent sinusitis can lead to inflammation of the lining of the brain - meningitis.

Bronchitis - inflammation of the bronchi - doctors divide into acute and chronic. Acute usually lasts no more than 10 days. But if your cough does not go away within a month, this is a clear reason to see an ENT doctor.

Less common complications include pneumonia, myocardia and pericardia, sciatica, neuralgia, viral encephalitis, pulmonary edema, and liver damage. Agree, there is little pleasant.

What not to do

So, obviously - you can't carry the disease on your feet. Remember that if a cold is treated correctly and on time, it can go away in two days. If you carry it on your feet, you will still lie down, but for a long time - with high fever and complications.

In the treatment of colds, promiscuity in the means brings us down: in order to drown out the disease, we are ready to pour everything into ourselves. Meanwhile, it is known: if a person takes 2 drugs at the same time, the risk of their unpredictable interaction is 10%, 3 drugs - 50%, and when using more than 5 drugs - it increases to 90%. So do not swallow the pills in handfuls!

Medicines work differently for different people. For example, asthmatics should not drink aspirin and analgin, as they can cause bronchospasm. Paracetamol is contraindicated in people who have liver damage. The instructions for each drug indicate when to take the drug without a prescription. Better not to exceed them.

According to studies, in 50% of cases, the appointment of antibiotics for acute respiratory infections is unjustified. Uncontrolled use of them is dangerous, because the main strains of pathogens become resistant to them, and when an antibiotic is really needed, it no longer works. On the other hand, if complications of the common cold - sore throat or pneumonia - appear, you cannot do without antibiotics. But the doctor must prescribe them.

The classic recommendation for colds is to gargle with chamomile and calendula. However, if a person is allergic to flowers and pollen, the sore throat can only get worse! There are people who cannot stand raspberries. And to prevent an allergic reaction, they cannot, for example, brew a leaf of it - a recognized anti-inflammatory agent.

In any case, it is important to make a correct diagnosis: you can assume that you have an ordinary cough and treat it with banks, but you may have already developed pneumonia, in which such a procedure is prohibited. Therefore, if you catch a cold, try to avoid such mistakes so as not to harm yourself. Go to the doctor's office immediately, take care of your health!

The term "cold" is a common name for acute diseases of the upper and / or lower respiratory tract, which in most cases develop after hypothermia.

Its signs are inflammatory processes of the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, larynx, trachea, which are manifested:

nasal congestion and mucous discharge from the nasal cavity;
dry (less often wet) cough;
hoarseness of voice;
an increase in body temperature (from subfebrile to high numbers);
weakness, lethargy, malaise, headache.

Dangerous complications of colds

But the disease itself is not dangerous, so many patients do not take colds seriously, ignore treatment and bed rest due to being busy at work, at home, or simply, considering it a harmless disease that will go away on its own and / or self-medicate, forgetting about the insidious complications. After all, an advanced disease can lead to the development of sinusitis, bronchitis, or even pneumonia. Ear infections such as otitis media, labyrinthitis, or mastoiditis are less common.

The danger of a cold is a decrease in general and local immunity and the activation of its own pathogenic or opportunistic microflora, as well as the layering of respiratory viruses that cause a complicated course of acute respiratory infections.

Symptoms of a complicated course of a cold:

signs of a common cold do not go away within a week;
there is a lingering wet cough with profuse sputum or coughing, which lasts more than 7 days;
the following symptoms are observed: ear pain, shortness of breath, pain in the sinuses, soreness around the nose and eyes;
febrile temperature (above 39 C);
severe weakness, lethargy, headaches, dizziness.

Why a cold is dangerous for organs

Most often, in the absence of treatment for a common cold, acute respiratory infections take on a complicated course, the most dangerous is for the nasal cavity, respiratory system, hearing aid, eyes, less often the heart, kidneys and brain are hit.

As a result of a decrease in the body's resistance, the development of inflammatory and infectious processes in the paranasal sinuses, lower respiratory tract or in the Eustachian tube with the occurrence of sinusitis (sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, ethmoiditis), bronchitis or pneumonia, otitis media or labyrinthitis, conjunctivitis, scleritis, blepharitis. More dangerous with a complicated course of acute respiratory infections, phlegmon or orbital abscess, inflammation of the vessels of the eye and the transition of the inflammatory process to the optic nerve or retina.

Sinusitis

Sinusitis is an infectious and inflammatory disease of the paranasal sinuses and most often develops as a complication of a cold or viral disease. The transition of inflammation to the mucous membrane of the maxillary (sinusitis), frontal (frontal) sinuses or ethmoid sinus (ethmoiditis) develops with significant hypothermia (primary sinusitis) or as a complication of acute respiratory infections (secondary sinusitis).

With prolonged inflammation, swelling of the sinus occurs, the activation of its own microflora provokes the filling of the sinus with fluid, in which bacteria multiply.

Signs of the development of sinusitis are discomfort and pain in the nasal cavity, paranasal region and around the eyes, intense headache, and abundant cloudy, dense, yellow-green discharge with an unpleasant odor. When these signs appear against the background of a prolonged cold, it is necessary to consult a specialist to clarify the diagnosis and prescribe the correct treatment. It must be remembered that in the absence of treatment, this pathology can turn into a chronic form, with a pronounced inflammatory process and a violation of the outflow of secretions, and also in the absence of an effect from conservative methods, surgical intervention is often necessary. Prolonged sinusitis with pronounced inflammation and edema of the sinus causes the thin walls of the sinus to melt and the transition of the infectious-inflammatory process to closely located organs - the eyes, ears and brain, causing their purulent inflammation. With late diagnosis, these pathological conditions can cause partial or complete blindness, hearing impairment and / or impaired coordination of movements, pathology of the nervous system (encephalitis, meningitis) with dangerous disabling consequences for the patient's health.

Otitis and labyrinthitis

No less dangerous complications of the common cold are infectious and inflammatory diseases of the middle ear: otitis media (more common in children) and labyrinthitis, causing not only hearing pathology, but also vestibular disorders in the form of systemic dizziness, impaired coordination of movements and persistent headaches. Less common is mastoiditis (purulent inflammation of the mastoid process of the temporal bone). The severity of this disease lies in the proximity of the structures of the brain and the possibility of the transition of purulent inflammation to the brain tissue, as well as the difficulties of treatment - there are no conservative methods of therapy for mastoiditis, therefore only surgical intervention and sanitation of the focus of infection are used.

With an inflammatory process in the middle ear, patients report severe ear pain, high fever, and intense headache. Labyrinthitis is characterized by the appearance of headaches, dizziness, weakness, constant nausea, while vomiting rarely brings relief and hearing impairment. If these symptoms appear against the background of a prolonged cold, you should immediately seek medical help and begin treatment for complications.

Bronchitis and pneumonia

A prolonged wet cough against the background of a cold is considered a prognostically unfavorable sign and in most cases indicates the development of bronchopulmonary complications - obstructive bronchitis, pneumonia or pleurisy.

Signs of bronchitis and pneumonia are:

severe moist cough with intermittent coughing;
discharge of yellowish-green sputum;
growing weakness, lethargy, dizziness;
temperature above 38 C.

With pleurisy, there is a dry, frequent cough with coughing up without phlegm, chest pain, febrile body temperature, severe weakness, malaise and headache.

When these symptoms appear against the background of a cold, patients need to consult a doctor as soon as possible due to the fact that the consequences of neglected pneumonia and pleurisy threaten the state of health, and in some cases, the life of the patient. With a significant decrease in immunity, it is possible to develop severe confluent or small-focal pneumonia, layering of fungal microflora, the formation of bronchiectasis (saccular dilatations of the bronchi filled with thick pus), lung abscesses and pleural empyema.

Everyone needs to remember that even a common cold poses a threat to our body, so any ailment must be treated. This is a real step to avoid a huge number of complications: bronchitis, tonsillitis, sinusitis, otitis media and pneumonia.

Get sick comfortably

When the first signs of acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections appear, bed rest, healthy sleep and proper treatment (and not always with drugs) are necessary!

You should always remember that if you treat a cold correctly, it will go away in 2-3 days.

Drink plenty of fluids

An abundant fortified drink helps to eliminate infectious agents, their waste products (various toxins), to reduce the inflammatory process and stimulates the body's own defenses. For this purpose, you can use rosehip decoction, cranberry juice, decoctions of medicinal plants (linden, mint, chamomile, calendula, St. John's wort), lemon tea, raspberry or currant branches, tea with jam, fruit and vegetable juices.

Meals should be fractional and healthy

A proper diet is of no small importance for colds - a balanced and fortified diet is considered one of the factors for a speedy recovery. In case of illness, you should not eat fatty and heavy food for the stomach, fried, spicy foods, smoked meats, extracted broths and allergenic foods. The diet must include stewed and boiled vegetables, sour milk dishes, fruits, liquid cereals, chicken broth, steamed cutlets or boiled lean meat, fish. Portions should be small and food well cooked to facilitate digestion and absorption of all essential nutrients, vitamins and trace elements.

Start local treatment of the inflammatory process as early as possible: gargling, rinsing the nasal cavity and taking herbal adaptogens to increase the body's immunological reactivity.
If necessary, additional medications are prescribed to relieve cold symptoms

In the treatment of colds, many patients are let down by the indiscriminate choice and use of drugs: in order to quickly get rid of the disease, people take everything in the hope of a speedy recovery, but it turns out the other way around. This not only does not alleviate the symptoms of the disease, but also contributes to the development of complications. Most of the symptoms of the disease are the body's defense reaction to the introduction of foreign agents into it, so it tries to get rid of this threat by increasing body temperature, increased sweating, watery mucous discharge from the nose, and coughing. Trying to suppress these symptoms as soon as possible, we allow pathogens and viruses to multiply and spread to all organs. Also, the use of a large amount of synthetic drugs causes suppression of immunity and / or the development of allergic or side effects from drugs, which also aggravates the course of the disease.

The use of drugs in the early days of a cold is justified only in people with a weakened immune system, in the elderly and babies, in the presence of background somatic pathologies, but only after the appointment of these drugs by a specialist. With prolonged colds, the presence of symptoms of a complicated course of the disease, you should immediately contact your doctor for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Quite often, improper treatment or self-medication leads to the development of complications:

early onset of taking antipyretics - causes a significant decrease in the body's immunological reactivity, increases the activity of the pathogen and its own microflora and the progression of the inflammatory process in the paranasal cavities, middle ear or tonsils;
active use of vasoconstrictive drops in the nose - provokes the development of paresis of small vessels of the mucous membrane, causes discomfort, dryness and burning sensation in the nasal cavity, there is an increase in edema, which disrupts the outflow of accumulated mucus in the nasal sinuses and the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms in them and, as a consequence, the development of purulent sinusitis;
the use of antitussive drugs - reduces the cough reflex, causing mucus to drain along the back of the pharynx into the trachea and bronchi, infection of the lower respiratory tract and the accumulation of mucous exudate in the bronchi and alveoli with the development of bronchitis, and with prolonged stagnation of mucus and pneumonia;
the use of mucolytics and herbal preparations that thin phlegm with dry cough - causes active production of mucus by the goblet cells of the trachea and bronchi and the accumulation of secretions in the lower parts of the bronchopulmonary system and a complicated course of the common cold that could have been avoided.

Why is a cold during pregnancy dangerous?

It is quite difficult to avoid colds in our climate, which is highly undesirable during pregnancy. And yet, you should not take the appearance of the first symptoms of a respiratory infection or acute respiratory infections as a catastrophe. It is necessary to imagine what consequences can arise from a disease at different stages of pregnancy and try to behave correctly when an illness occurs.

The development of a cold during pregnancy is usually caused by pathogens of acute respiratory infections or hypothermia. Therefore, the expectant mother should visit crowded places as rarely as possible, especially when epidemiological outbreaks occur, wear a gauze bandage or medical mask, strengthen her immune system, avoid hypothermia and dress for the weather. You should always remember that getting a cold or viral illness during pregnancy can adversely affect the health of the baby and the mother herself, but even more harm can be caused by the lack of treatment (if necessary) or improper treatment (taking certain groups of drugs that can cause the development of various deformities or congenital abnormalities of the fetal organs). And yet, do not panic and worry - the stress factor will only aggravate the course of the disease and cause a violation of the baby's natural defenses - a malfunction of the feto-placental barrier that protects the baby from the adverse effects of various aggressive agents.

A cold in early pregnancy is extremely undesirable due to active cell division and the laying of all organs and systems of the fetus - any adverse effect, including a meeting with an infectious agent, can provoke various disorders - embryopathies. But the most dangerous are rubella and flu. It is these viral infections that cause the formation of multiple deformities in the fetus, often incompatible with life. In rubella, the hearing organs, heart and eyes are most often affected, with the development of deafness, blindness and complex congenital heart defects in the baby. The influenza virus provokes the development of pathology of the neural tube, heart and blood vessels and changes in the kidneys.

A cold in the first three months of pregnancy is dangerous and difficult to treat - most medications are not recommended to be taken in the early stages due to the high risk of teratogenic effects on the fetus, and a large number of herbal preparations and herbs are no less dangerous. Therefore, during this period, it is necessary to make every effort so as not to get sick.

At the same time, there is also the possibility that the signs of a cold: weakness, fatigue, headache, nasal congestion and even a slight runny nose are nothing more than "the first signs of pregnancy." Which justifies the popular belief, according to which, a cold is regarded as one of the symptoms of pregnancy. All these signs are due to abrupt changes in hormonal levels with an active release of progesterone, which causes fluid retention, therefore, in many pregnant women, nasal congestion disappears only after the birth of a child.

Why is a cold in early pregnancy dangerous?

A cold that a woman suffered before pregnancy cannot negatively affect the fetus, but it significantly weakens the immune system of the expectant mother and makes her more susceptible to diseases in the early stages of pregnancy. The onset of a cold, during a period when the expectant mother does not know about conception: in the first two weeks of pregnancy, can lead to a violation of the introduction of the ovum into the endometrial mucosa or to termination of pregnancy due to the high vulnerability of the embryo during this period. Therefore, many women who have had a serious cold do not even know about their pregnancy, since the rejection of the ovum occurs even before the delay in menstruation. During this period, various drugs or high fever can adversely affect the embryo.

A cold in the first weeks of pregnancy is dangerous:

adverse effects on the fetus of viruses and pathogenic microorganisms;
the negative effect on the body of the fetus and mother of drugs with the vital necessity of their use;
the possibility of complications (sinusitis, otitis media, bronchitis, conjunctivitis) due to a decrease in the immunity of the expectant mother, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy.

Most pregnant women in the early stages of pregnancy are constantly exposed to infectious agents, but they do not always get sick, and yet you need to know the possible consequences of a severe cold in the early stages in order to soberly assess and control the situation and seek the advice of a specialist in a timely manner. You also need to remember that all gross malformations today are successfully diagnosed already at the first compulsory (screening) ultrasound scan at 10-11 weeks of pregnancy, therefore, having been ill in the early stages, this examination is important for you and your baby.

What is the danger of a cold during pregnancy 2 trimester

Viral infections and colds in the second trimester pose less danger to the fetus, but frequent respiratory infections can disrupt blood circulation in the placenta with the development of feto-placental insufficiency. At the same time, calcifications can form in the placenta, which provokes its premature aging and a violation of its main function - providing the baby with oxygen and essential nutrients. Therefore, there is a high probability of the birth of a baby with intrauterine malnutrition, anemia, and chronic intrauterine hypoxia.

With frequent viral diseases, the occurrence of gross malformations in the fetus is impossible - all organs and systems are already laid down, but it is during this period that their functional maturation occurs, and thoughtless intake of drugs or frequent toxic effects of viral and bacterial infections leads to a violation of cell differentiation and the baby can be born with various pathologies of the nervous, immune, cardiovascular systems, premature birth or intrauterine hypotrophy are possible.

The influence of colds in the second trimester directly depends on the pathogen, the frequency of episodes and the duration of treatment of the diseases.

Why a cold is dangerous in late pregnancy

Colds in late pregnancy are most dangerous before childbirth, especially for the baby - flu, herpes and cytomegalovirus infection, which can cause dangerous complications in the newborn. Also, acute viral infections can provoke a complicated course of labor. Therefore, a pregnant woman with signs of acute respiratory infections or acute respiratory viral infections at the 9th month of pregnancy is hospitalized in the observational department of the maternity hospital, most often in the box, and the child is isolated after childbirth so that he does not become infected. You may need to spend more time in the hospital to make sure that there are no complications of a cold in the mother and signs of the onset of the disease in the baby. In the normal course of the adaptation period, the mother is allowed to feed the crumbs and, when he recovers, is discharged home.

The most dangerous viral disease in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy for a child is considered to be herpes infection in the acute period - this disease is life-threatening due to the development of complications - herpetic encephalitis and eye lesions.
Therefore, the expectant mother should understand that the development of a cold in the last weeks of pregnancy is not desirable and avoid unnecessary contacts: do not use public transport, do not visit crowded places and shops. It must be remembered that by the end of pregnancy, the risk of diseases and their complicated course for both the mother and the baby increases significantly.