Sinusitis during pregnancy is an inflammation of the nasal sinuses that leads to the accumulation of secretions in the cavities of the nose, eyes and face, resulting in symptoms such as headache, runny nose and a feeling of pressure in the face.
Sinusitis during pregnancy can be caused by viral, bacterial or fungal infections, or even allergies, and can develop at any stage of pregnancy, and can be relieved by washing the nose with serum and inhaling hot water vapor.
However, whenever a pregnant woman presents symptoms of sinusitis, she should consult an obstetrician or otorhinolaryngologist for an evaluation, and if necessary, treatment with antibiotics or corticosteroids should be indicated, which should only be used under medical advice so as not to harm the development of the sinusitis. baby.
Symptoms of sinusitis in pregnancy
The main symptoms of sinusitis during pregnancy are:
- Stuffy or runny nose;
- Headache;
- Feeling of heaviness or pressure in the face;
- Constant sneezing;
- Cough that gets worse at night;
- Thick, yellowish phlegm;
- Sore throat;
- Fever.
If symptoms of sinusitis appear during pregnancy, it is important to consult an obstetrician or otorhinolaryngologist so that the diagnosis can be made and the most appropriate treatment can be indicated. See other symptoms of sinusitis.
Does sinusitis during pregnancy affect the baby?
Sinusitis during pregnancy generally does not harm the baby, however, women should not self-medicate or even use medications that they already took to treat sinusitis before becoming pregnant, as this could harm the baby’s development, and should always choose as possible, through natural treatments.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of sinusitis during pregnancy is made by an obstetrician or otorhinolaryngologist by evaluating the symptoms and palpating the nasal sinuses to assess whether there is sensitivity in this region.
Generally, no tests are necessary, however, if the doctor deems it necessary, he or she may order a nasal endoscopy or computed tomography.
Possible causes
Sinusitis during pregnancy is caused by viral, bacterial or fungal infections, because during pregnancy, the immune system is weakened, which can increase the risk of infections.
Furthermore, sinusitis during pregnancy can also be caused by allergies to dust mites, dust, pollen or animal hair, for example.
How the treatment is carried out
The treatment of sinusitis during pregnancy must be guided by an obstetrician or otorhinolaryngologist, and may be indicated:
1. Nebulize
Nebulization helps to hydrate the airways, making secretions more liquid and easier to eliminate, improving nasal congestion and the discomfort of sinusitis.
Nebulization for sinusitis during pregnancy can be done in different ways, which include:
- Nebulization with saline solution: 5 to 10 mL of saline solution should be placed in the nebulizer cup, position the mask close to the nose and breathe that air until the liquid completely disappears;
- Nebulization with water vapor: just lock yourself in the bathroom and let the hot shower water run to generate a lot of steam, inhaling it for around 20 minutes;
- Nebulizing with herbs: It is necessary to boil water and prepare chamomile (Matricaria recutita), eucalyptus or orange peel and lemon tea and inhale the steam for approximately 20 minutes, keeping your face 8 cm from the container. You should place the tea in a basin, place it on a table and sit on the chair, leaning slightly to breathe in the steam.
Nebulization should be done 2 to 3 times a day, for approximately 20 minutes, especially in the morning and before bed. See other ways to nebulize for sinusitis.
These natural methods for treating acute or chronic sinusitis help to unblock the airways, making breathing easier.
Watch the following video on how to prepare nebulization for sinusitis:
2. Nasal wash
Nasal washing with 0.9% saline solution, at least 2 to 3 times a day, helps eliminate secretions that make breathing difficult.
To wash the nose, fill a syringe without a needle with approximately 10 to 20 mL of sterile 0.9% saline solution, tilt the body forward and the head slightly to the side. Then, position the syringe at the entrance to one nostril and press until the serum comes out of the other nostril.
It is important to keep your mouth open and also breathe through your mouth while washing with the serum, in addition to not breathing in the serum, and blowing your nose immediately afterwards.
In addition, it is also possible to prepare a homemade saline solution for nasal washing. Learn how to prepare a homemade saline solution for sinusitis.
Generally, nasal washing with serum is more effective after nebulization, as the secretions become more fluid and are easier to eliminate.
3. Blowing your nose
To avoid the accumulation of secretions, pregnant women should blow their nose with a soft tissue whenever necessary, not just cleaning the tip of their nostrils.
If you have to do this often, the woman can apply a healing cream to her nose to prevent wounds from forming due to friction.
4. Drinking lots of fluids
Pregnant women with sinusitis should drink at least 2 liters of water or unsweetened tea.
A great tea for sinusitis is ginger tea with lemon, as it has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as helping to increase the body’s defenses.
To make ginger tea with lemon, you must place the peel of 1 washed and sanitized Galician or normal lemon and 1 cm of ginger in 2 cups of boiling water, let it cool and drink the 2 cups of tea divided into two doses per day, for a maximum of 4 days.
Ginger and lemon tea should be avoided if it is close to childbirth or in women with a history of miscarriage, clotting problems or who are at risk of bleeding. Check out the list of teas that should not be used during pregnancy.
What to take to treat sinusitis during pregnancy
To treat sinusitis during pregnancy, it is important to never take any medicine without a doctor’s advice to assess whether it harms the baby’s development.
Generally, when natural treatment is not enough, the doctor may prescribe painkillers for headaches, corticosteroids and/or antibiotics. However, a rigorous assessment is first necessary to choose the most correct treatment.
