Treatment

Before an expectant mother initiates treatment against rhinitis during pregnancy herself, a doctor should always be consulted. Just because no harmful influence on an unborn child has been proven with some medicines to date, this does not mean that complications can be completely ruled out. For this reason, any intake of medication should be carefully weighed during pregnancy.

Even before using over-the-counter medicines and/or home remedies for colds during pregnancy, the advice of a doctor should be sought. In addition, the package leaflet must be read carefully before taking any medication regarding the risks during pregnancy. However, since a cold usually comes on suddenly and the women concerned wish for rapid relief of the symptoms, many tend to take medication prematurely.In order to prevent this problem, it should be clarified in advance with a specialist, which measures can be taken without risk.

In general, if you suffer from a cold during pregnancy, you should use gentle medication and/or household remedies. Many homeopathics and simple household remedies can help to treat the cold quickly. Especially the use of saltwater nasal sprays has proven to be effective for expectant mothers with a cold during pregnancy.

Decongestant nasal sprays and other strong medicines, on the other hand, should be avoided urgently in the case of a cold during pregnancy. For most of these drugs, the risk-benefit balance is on the risk side. In addition, the treatment of rhinitis during pregnancy must always be based on the causative disease.

Some special forms of rhinitis require a special treatment strategy, at least in part. A medical specialist can help women with this condition to develop an adequate treatment plan that is harmless to the child. The relevant forms of rhinitis include: hormone-induced pregnancy rhinitis Allergic rhinitis during pregnancy (allergen-dependent) Vasomotor rhinitis during pregnancy (caused by irritants in the environment or psychological stress) Infectious rhinitis Infectious rhinitis Infectious rhinitis caused by foreign bodies, injuries or tumours If the rhinitis is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain and/or pain in the limbs during pregnancy, painkillers (analgesics) can be taken if necessary.

In general, drugs containing the active ingredients paracetamol or ibuprofen are not considered harmful to the unborn child. Nevertheless, a precise risk-benefit analysis must be carried out when taking one of these active ingredients. In addition, affected women should discuss with their doctor which of the two active ingredients can be taken at the respective time of pregnancy.

Diseases associated with rhinitis are in most cases also caused by viral pathogens during pregnancy. For this reason it is usually not necessary to take antibiotics. If a so-called “bacterial super-infection” (i.e. the simultaneous occurrence of a viral and a bacterial infection) occurs in an affected woman, special antibiotics suitable for pregnancy must be prescribed. Ideally, possible courses of action should be discussed with the treating gynecologist before the onset of a cold during pregnancy.

Hormonally caused pregnancy rhinitis
Allergic rhinitis during pregnancy (allergen-dependent)
Vasomotor rhinitis in pregnancy (caused by environmental irritants or psychological stress)
Sniffles with infectious diseases
Cold with foreign bodies, injuries or tumors