Diagnosis
When making the diagnosis, the doctor will ask about typical symptoms and will also be interested in the period during which these symptoms already exist. Of great importance is always also the exclusion of a bacterial infection, which must then be treated in the following in another way and has straight for pregnant women with a possible antibiotic therapy other consequences. Although there are some good and very safe antibiotics that are tolerated and can be prescribed without any problems during pregnancy without any danger to the unborn child, all drug interventions should be kept as low as possible.
The correct diagnosis is also important in order to exclude a real “real” flu, which is caused by influenza viruses and is much more severe and more complicated for the patient. Infants, elderly people and pregnant women are particularly at risk here and may require intensive medical care, including temporary inpatient monitoring in hospital. Although there are some good and very safe antibiotics that are easily tolerated and can be prescribed even during pregnancy without any risk to the unborn child, all drug interventions should be kept as low as possible. The correct diagnosis is also important in order to exclude a real “real” flu, which is caused by influenza viruses and is much more severe and more complicated for the patient. Infants, elderly people and pregnant women are particularly at risk here and may require intensive medical care, including temporary inpatient monitoring in hospital.
When should I go to the doctor with a cold during pregnancy?
A cold does not necessarily have to be seen by a doctor. However, during pregnancy and in the case of uncertainties regarding the behavior in the event of a cold, one should rather consult a doctor more generously in order to receive individual advice. Particularly if uncertainties exist regarding the taking of medicine.
If the fever is high and persists for several days, a doctor should also be consulted. As with every cold, the family doctor is the first point of contact in the event of a cold during pregnancy. He knows the current disease situation in the region concerned and knows what causes typical cases of illness at the moment and what can be done to alleviate the acute symptoms.
He can also examine with regard to other diseases and thus make important exclusion diagnoses (see above). If he or she does not already know about the pregnancy, it may be helpful to point this out to him or her separately. As a rule, however, there are no consequences (except for the omission of some medications), because the therapy of a cold is the same for pregnant and non-pregnant women and the cold per se does not pose an acute danger to the child.
Nevertheless, in case of doubt, it is always advisable to consult a doctor, also because a doctor can correctly assess the severity of the illness and can plan any necessary further action with you (for example, consulting a gynecologist or another check-up appointment after a few days). Especially in the case of colds that are accompanied by fever, a doctor should be consulted in the course of the disease. As a rule, the family doctor can give the pregnant woman good advice on which medicines and measures are safe and which are not.Depending on the agreement with the gynecologist, however, you can also visit him immediately. If symptoms associated with the pregnancy occur, such as bleeding or premature labor, the gynecologist should definitely be consulted.
