Should I go to work with a cold during pregnancy? | Cold during pregnancy

Should I go to work with a cold during pregnancy?

Pregnant women who have a cold cannot be forbidden to go to work. However the recommendation goes rather in the direction that pregnant women should rather be more generously ill written, in order to give the body time to cure the cold. For a pregnant woman, rest when having a cold is even more essential than for women without pregnancy, since pregnancy itself is a strain on the body.

It is also known that second infections are more likely to settle down if the body is not sufficiently protected. The normal cold is usually caused by viruses. A secondary infection can also be caused by a bacterium and is a serious illness, as it can also be dangerous for the child.

Furthermore, stress at work can affect the already weakened body in such a way that premature contractions can be triggered. A further reason for not going to work when having a cold is the risk of infecting other people. Workplaces where many people work together in a confined space are particularly at risk, as pathogens can spread very quickly due to poor hygiene and poor air conditions.

Duration

An uncomplicated cold begins slowly with the first symptoms, which increase over a few days. After about a week, most symptoms usually subside. It is important to know that coughing typically occurs later in the course of a cold and lasts for 18 days on average, even if all other symptoms have already completely disappeared. During pregnancy, the course of the disease can also differ from the classic cold. Therefore, especially during pregnancy, a lot of rest is essential so that the body can fight the infection effectively.

Prognosis

Not least the question arises whether a cold in pregnancy can be dangerous for mother and/or child. In addition it is to be said that a normal uncomplicated cold illness is annoying and arduous and represents an additional load for the body of the pregnant woman, but in no way as acutely threatening is to be estimated. As a rule, all symptoms heal on their own after 3-5 days.

On average, adults catch a cold about three times a year, children even more often because their immune system is not yet able to protect them completely against all viruses. There is always a risk if you suspect a bacterial superinfection (in addition to the viruses that have attacked the body, bacteria are now added), fever with temperatures above 39 degrees occurs or there is no improvement after more than a week. For these symptoms, but also for unusual pain (for example, severe ear pain or pain in the forehead area and under the eyes), a doctor should be consulted. Even in the case of a harmless, self-limiting disease, if you have a pronounced cold, you should always make sure that the disease is completely cured: if it is spread or the body is stressed too quickly, there is a risk of further inflammation, for example in the middle ear, lungs or pleura, or a permanent strain on the heart due to inflammation of the heart muscle.