Chronic tonsillitis during pregnancy, including lactation, in fact is a real threat to the mother and her developing baby. Directly, it comes from the microflora of a bacterial nature, which, in fact, causes this disease.
On the one hand, the disease can provoke a number of problems, in addition to discomfort. But on the other hand, well-organized preventive measures will help to avoid exacerbation of the disease, which is not so scary.
What is tonsillitis?
Accumulations of lymphoid tissue, which are located in the mouth and nasopharynx, are called tonsils. This is a kind of protective barrier in the fight against various infections. In addition, tonsils maintain the constancy of blood plasma and contribute to the development of immunity.
Under the term "tonsillitis" is the inflammation taking place in the amygdala. It can occur in acute or chronic stages. Regarding the latter, it is worth noting that chronic tonsillitis during pregnancy is mainly protracted. In addition, there may be periods of exacerbation and remission.
As medical practice shows, 20% of all inhabitants of the planet Earth develop chronic tonsillitis. No one is safe from this disease - it can take a person by surprise, regardless of age, gender or social status! Even pregnant women risk no less.
The causes of the disease
In most cases, the disease begins to develop after a disease of an infectious nature:
- angina;
- scarlet fever;
- measles;
- diphtheria.
In addition, inflammation can appear on its own due to exposure to pathogenic microflora:
- Bacteria - staphylococci, pneumococci, adenovirus, streptococci, chlamydia.
- Fungi - this also occurs, though in rare cases.
As a result of such exposure, the normal process of self-cleaning of the tonsils is disrupted as a result of the destruction of lymphoid tissues.
But the most common triggering factors that cause chronic tonsillitis during pregnancy are the following reasons:
- Hypothermia of the body.
- Ingestion of insufficient amounts of vitamins and other beneficial trace elements.
- Weakening of the immune system.
- The presence of polyps or adenoids.
- Curvature of the septum of the nose, which can lead to impaired breathing and hearing.
- Untreated dental caries.
- Sinusitis
To prevent the development of tonsillitis during pregnancy, women need to especially closely monitor their health, avoid hypothermia and observe a diet. Everything else should be regularly shown to the dentist and other specialists.
Manifestations of the disease
Usually, exacerbation of chronic tonsillitis occurs in the late period of autumn and winter. It is during this period of time that the human body is most susceptible to attack by pathogens. But in addition to the disease of the chronic stage, its acute form also often occurs precisely in this period. This occurs due to hypothermia and lack of vitamins.
Chronic tonsillitis and pregnancy are those combinations that are not compatible with each other! Therefore, it is extremely important to recognize the first signs of the disease and begin to take appropriate measures.
Early term
If, after a successful conception, a woman already has chronic tonsillitis, then the ongoing changes characteristic of pregnancy will serve as an impetus for exacerbation of the disease. Indeed, during this period, the female body undergoes serious hormonal changes, which requires tremendous energy from it.
Symptoms of the disease in the early stages are as follows:
- Unpleasant sensations in the throat. Moreover, from a slight tickling or tickle to a pronounced pain syndrome.
- The sore throat, accompanied by the severity of swallowing food, appears dry cough.
- Pressing the lymph nodes of the lower jaw causes pain, the intensity of which increases with time.
- The body temperature rises, though slightly, as a rule, it keeps within the permissible range of 37.3-38 degrees, nothing more.
- Constant fatigue, drowsiness, apathy.
It is worth noting that the above symptoms of chronic tonsillitis during pregnancy largely coincide with the characteristic signs of a starting cold. In this regard, most women "in position" simply do not pay attention to it. They try to get along on their own, transferring diseases that are called “on their feet”, self-medicating.
However, for any pregnant woman, this approach is fundamentally wrong. Especially when it comes to early term - after all, this period is the most responsible!
Later pregnancy
Symptoms of tonsillitis at a later stage of pregnancy, as a rule, arise due to weakening of the body (for obvious reasons), when the chronic form of the disease worsens. In this case, the characteristic features are as follows:
- Swallowing causes increased pain. And during a visual examination, an increase in tonsils is detected, traces of the inflammatory process are noticeable, swelling, plaque are observed. There is also redness, purulent plugs.
- Due to the collapse of the tissues of the tonsils, an unpleasant odor is felt from the mouth.
- Body temperature is markedly increased, chills are felt.
- Muscle pain is felt not only when moving, but also when a woman is at rest.
- Headaches and fatigue are already quite severe.
- The cervical lymph nodes are enlarged, and their pressure causes pain.
The mentioned incompatibility of chronic tonsillitis and pregnancy is mainly due to the fact that toxins can spread throughout the body through the bloodstream, starting its path from the focus of inflammation. Thanks to this, the general intoxication of the body of the mother and child is enhanced.
The effect of chronic tonsillitis
The presence of a similar disease in pregnant women in fact adversely affects throughout the term and the intrauterine development of the fetus. At the very moment of conception and the beginning of the birth of a new life, tonsillitis does not affect in any way. However, do not underestimate the seriousness of the situation.
These problems appear after 2 or 3 weeks of the first trimester. During this period, the fetus begins to develop rapidly, and in this regard, the load on the immune system of the female body increases markedly. In this case, the immune system is simply not able to withstand the attack of microorganisms that parasitize on the tissues of the tonsils.
As a result, various consequences of chronic tonsillitis during pregnancy begin to develop.
Cases of miscarriage
One of the sides of the negative negative impact of chronic tonsillitis is this complication. But this is also a real blow to the mental health of any woman. Approximately 27% (no less certainly) of all cases of premature rejection of the fetus by the body of a woman is associated with the presence of a focus of inflammation in the chronic stage.
The risk of losing a baby in early pregnancy is directly proportional to the severity of the inflammatory process and the nature of the pathogen. With the development of its pathogenic activity on the tonsils of Staphylococcus aureus, the risk of miscarriage is 75%! This microorganism is a particular threat, since it is able to quickly arrange bacterial colonies. He also has natural immunity to the effects of traditional penicillin antibiotics. In addition, this bacterium can cause blood poisoning.
Developmental disability
What could be more serious than a miscarriage due to the activity of chronic tonsillitis during pregnancy? The consequences for the child can be no less deplorable - at any time this negatively affects the physical and mental development of the baby.
This usually manifests itself in different ways:
- heart defects;
- abnormalities of the lower and upper limbs;
- backwardness of the formation of intellectual abilities;
- slowdown in psycho-emotional development.
All this is mainly due to the microflora of bacterial origin, which, through maternal blood, spreads throughout the woman's body and enters the internal tissues of the fetus. However, there is another way for pathogens to enter the baby — breastfeeding. Together with milk, the baby receives a portion of the infection!
In this case, bacterial infection of the digestive system occurs. It is very difficult to predict how exactly pathogenic microorganisms will behave in the future, including the effect on the fetus. Chronic tonsillitis and pregnancy, as we know, are conflicting concepts, and therefore the likelihood of developing an inflammatory process of the gastrointestinal tract cannot be ruled out.
Delivery before due date
Pregnancy itself is a real test of any woman's strength! Initially, it is necessary to approach planning a child more than responsibly, because the stage requires good moral and physical preparation. And if the body is weakened by chronic tonsillitis, then one should not be surprised at various complications. In addition, in the process of intrauterine development of the child, the immune system may experience overload.
All this may result in premature delivery. Thus, the body of a pregnant woman is trying to compensate for the high level of stress that he has to experience. In other words, this is a necessary (albeit in many ways unpleasant) measure that the immune system is taking to rid itself of the overwhelming burden. As a rule, preterm birth occurs for a period of 7 or 8 months.
Congenital autoimmune pathologies
It is safe to say that the effect of chronic tonsillitis on pregnancy can have a global character. In most cases, those women who suffer from manifestations of a chronic disease have children with a characteristic deviation. In particular, we are talking about pathologies of the immune system. Their presence is just due to the penetration of a pathogenic infection into the fetus at the stage of formation of its body.
And while the child is still inside the mother, the immune system is not fully developed. And the impact of pathogenic microorganisms only violates the entire order of its formation. Ultimately, the child is born with already congenital disorders in the work of the immune system, which is no longer able to fulfill its direct duties.
These children from an early age are prone to frequent colds, viral and infectious diseases. And in relation to their healthy peers, one can notice a growth lag. In addition, due to a malfunction of the immune system, there may be other manifestations that are negative in any case, which only negatively affects children's health.
How else does chronic tonsillitis affect pregnancy? The most common pathology is the development of an allergy to various irritants:
- Food;
- dust;
- pet hair and stuff.
And if all this does not affect healthy children in any way, then for babies with impaired immunity it turns into a real test. In some cases, this can cause not only discomfort, but also have dangerous consequences.
Tonsillitis treatment
If an ordinary person can undergo the appropriate full course of treatment, including the use of necessary antibiotics, then in expectant mothers the situation is somewhat complicated. Indeed, pregnant women have a lot of restrictions due to their special status. In addition, there are many more problems that tonsillitis can cause.
Many doctors around the world insist on treating tonsillitis before pregnancy. After all, one should not once again expose oneself and the unborn child to unjustified risks. However, it is not always possible to do this before conception, and then you need to contact your doctor, who will make a purely individual therapy.
In this case, treatment of chronic tonsillitis during pregnancy may include both the use of traditional methods and traditional medicine. This will be discussed further.
Traditional therapy
Using antibiotics for pregnant women is an impermissible and dangerous luxury! In this regard, doctors resort to the help of less toxic medications. After examining the patient, the doctor usually prescribes relatively harmless medications: Tantum Verde in the form of a spray and Lisobakt (resorption tablets). These drugs have a local effect, not allowing harmful microorganisms to multiply in the nasopharynx and oral cavity.
Also, doctors can prescribe the drug - "Tonsipret." This is a combination of extracts based on three medicinal plants:
- Lakonosa American - can not only relieve inflammation, pain, but also strengthen the immune system.
- Guaiac wood - allows you to remove the inflammatory process of the oral mucosa.
- Capsicum - has an antiseptic effect.
Due to modern production technologies, all components of this medicine do not lose their beneficial properties. If chronic tonsillitis during pregnancy has passed into an acute form, then it is necessary to dissolve the tablets every 2 or 3 hours.
Using a solution of chlorophyllipt, you can also effectively remove purulent plaque from the tonsils. To do this, moisten a cotton swab in it and carefully treat the surface. If traditional drug therapy does not bring the expected results, doctors prescribe antibiotics. However, this is done only if the pathogen poses a much greater threat than the drugs themselves.
Propolis
Among folk remedies, there is also a good alternative - the use of propolis is not the last place. It can be used as an extract or in small pieces. Water and alcohol solutions based on it also bring significant benefits.
This tool is almost harmless to women "in position". However, in some cases, an allergic reaction may occur. Redness, itching, burning appears on the skin or mucous membrane. For this reason, use of propolis is necessary only after consultation with a specialist.
Therapeutic inhalation
According to numerous reviews of chronic tonsillitis and pregnancy against its background, this is another effective way to combat the disease. Potato inhalations are usually common. However, they can be made on the basis of various decoctions:
- eucalyptus;
- pine buds;
- sage;
- thyme.
Hot steam baths for the head also help. At the same time, it must be remembered that everything should be in moderation and the abuse of hot baths and inhalation does not bode well! Often, due to overheating of the body, health is worsening. And the harm from this is no less, and even vice versa - more.
In addition, the head steam bath should in no case be carried out if the woman has an increased sensitivity of the skin. Among other contraindications, it is worth noting the excessive redness of the face, the expansion of blood vessels.