Associated symptoms
Sore throats are often accompanied by difficulty swallowing. The inflammation in the throat irritates the mucous membranes. When swallowing, a mechanical pressure acts on the mucous membrane of the throat, which quickly leads to pain in the case of the pre-existing inflammation and irritation.
Despite the difficulty in swallowing in case of sore throat, it is recommended to drink a lot. Especially sage tea or a hot lemon can inhibit the inflammation, calm the mucous membrane and thus reduce the pain. A sore throat with an additional fever is most likely to indicate a simple cold or flu-like infection.
Since an infection during pregnancy can also have an effect on the unborn child, a doctor should be consulted if a fever occurs. This doctor can initiate a specific diagnostic procedure to assess the severity of the infection. Depending on the outcome of the diagnosis, therapy with simple home remedies or, if necessary, the administration of medication may be necessary.
Therapy
Especially during pregnancy the therapy of many diseases is a challenge. Many medications are not approved for pregnant women because either it is known that the drug damages the unborn child or it is not known whether the child could be damaged. Since studies on pregnant women are prohibited in Germany, the drugs cannot be tested.
As a rule, sore throats during pregnancy are also caused by relatively harmless colds. These are treated purely symptomatically with a high drinking quantity, tea and cough sweets. If the sore throat is caused by a bacterial disease, antibiotics may be necessary.
This must be however exactly with a responsible physician co-ordinated, since only few antibiotics are certified for pregnant women.Therefore, a therapy with home remedies is usually recommended for sore throats. However, under close supervision, medication may have to be used if the symptoms worsen. The decision depends in each individual case on how endangered mother and child are by the illness and how dangerous the medicine necessary for therapy is.
There are many medications for sore throats. Most of them are available in pharmacies without prescription and are generally harmless. However, many of these drugs are not approved for pregnant women.
The reason for this is that drug studies in pregnant women are not permitted and therefore no objective data can be collected on drug administration during pregnancy. Therefore, it is not possible to make a blanket statement about which drugs help with sore throats in pregnancy. Since sore throats occurring in isolation are initially harmless, they should be treated with unproblematic household remedies such as lozenges, various teas and different solutions for gargling.
But just when additional symptoms such as fever occur, a doctor should be consulted. After a detailed diagnosis, the doctor can prescribe specific medication that is also safe during pregnancy. Who would like to have nevertheless free-selling medicines from the pharmacy with sore throat, the pharmacists should inform the present pregnancy absolutely about.
Dolo Dobendan ® is a medicine against sore throat, whose effect is based on two different active ingredients: Benzocaine and cetylpyridinium chloride. Benzocaine is an analgesic and, when taken as a lozenge, is mainly effective against sore throats. Benzocaine anaesthetizes the pain-conducting nerve fibers, which results in the analgesic effect.
Cetylpyridinium chloride is an antiseptic and is said to act against the bacteria that cause sore throat. In general, Dolo Dobendan lozenges are suitable for children over 6 years of age. However, there has not been sufficient research on Dolo Dobendan during pregnancy and lactation.
It is therefore only recommended to take it after a doctor’s recommendation. Other drugs with similar effects: Lemocin ®, Neo-Angin ®, Dorithricin ®In pregnancy, the intake of drugs is often problematic, so if you have a slight sore throat, you should first use some well-tried household remedies. To keep the mucous membranes moist, one should drink a lot.
In addition, lozenges are available in the pharmacy, which stimulate the saliva production. Another household remedy is for example hot lemon. Ideally, one teaspoon of honey should be added.
The sour lemon stimulates the production of saliva and keeps the mucous membranes moist. Gargling with sage tea or salt water is also recommended, as it has a disinfectant effect on the mucous membranes. Ginger can be absorbed in tea as well as a spice in food.
Ginger develops its full effect especially in the case of sore throats. Due to the mixture of pungent substances and essential oils, ginger can have a particularly good effect on mucous membranes and respiratory tract. On the one hand, ginger kills bacteria, on the other hand it dissolves the mucus and improves the blood circulation in the mucous membranes.
The improved blood circulation helps the body to develop its own defences more effectively. Sage has a calming effect on the mucous membranes. Due to its ingredients, it is also effective against bacteria and relieves pain.
In case of sore throat during pregnancy, sage can be taken in different forms: Many throat sweets contain sage. The sweets stimulate saliva production and thus keep the mucous membranes moist. The same moisturizing effect is achieved by gargling with sage tea.
The sage tea can of course also be drunk. The increased drinking amount additionally moistens the mucous membranes, and a good fluid balance is also important in order to supply the body sufficiently at elevated temperatures. The use of homeopathic remedies during pregnancy can be dangerous for the unborn child, depending on the active ingredient.
Therefore, they should only be taken during pregnancy after close consultation with a doctor. There are various homeopathic remedies for sore throats, the use of which varies depending on the type of sore throat. Belladonna works for sore throat with difficulty swallowing. Aconitum is particularly suitable in case of flu or infection. Phytolacca and Apis mellifica are recommended for severely swollen and reddened tonsils.
