Sinus pain early pregnancy

Relief for Ongoing Nasal Congestion Is Possible

If you're expecting a baby, you may be dealing with a stuffy nose that doesn’t seem to go away. This hassle is called pregnancy rhinitis. The cause of this condition isn’t really clear. However, it may be caused by hormonal changes.Having a history of allergies or asthma does not raise your risk of getting pregnancy rhinitis.

More than just a stuffy nose

Pregnancy rhinitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the nose. This causes nasal congestion. Increased blood flow to the nasal passages and enlargement of the nasal veins also play a role.

Symptoms occur during pregnancy. They can last for several weeks. On top of feeling uncomfortable, your sleep may be disrupted. This is because the congestion gets worse when you lie down. This may make you to feel more tired during the day. Long-lasting congestion also can lead to complications. These can include sinusitis and ear infections.

Be cautious when seeking treatment

Many women use non-prescription, over-the-counter (OTC) decongestant sprays to open up their nasal passages. Know that these medicines don’t work for pregnancy rhinitis. These medicines may give you temporary relief. However, they may actually make your symptoms worse and lead to a complete nasal blockage.

How can you get relief from pregnancy rhinitis? Experts say you can breathe easy with these measures:

Don’t use OTC nasal decongestants.
Drink plenty of fluids.
Increase the humidity levels in your home. Use a humidifier.
Don’t use nasal irritants, such as cigarette smoke.
Get moving. Regular, moderate-intensity exercise can reduce congestion. It can also help you sleep better. But first, check with your healthcare provider to see what exercises are safe for you.
When you go to sleep, raise the head of your bed. For instance, use an extra pillow or a wedge.
Ask your healthcare provider about using OTC nasal strips and saline sprays or drops.

The good news? Even if you don’t do anything, you can expect your stuffy nose to clear up soon after your baby is born. It often goes away within two weeks of childbirth.

Online Medical Reviewer: Bowers, Nancy, RN, BSN, MPH Foley, Maryann, RN, BSN

Date Last Reviewed: 4/12/2016

© 2000-2019 The StayWell Company, LLC. 800 Township Line Road, Yardley, PA 19067. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.

Sinus Infection While Pregnant: Prevention and Treatment

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Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Valencia Higuera on May 17, 2018

Overview

Pregnancy has its own set of symptoms. Some days you may feel physically and emotionally well, and other days you may feel ill. Many women experience morning sickness, tiredness, and back pain throughout their three trimesters.

Getting sick with a sinus infection while having these pregnancy symptoms can take a toll on the body.

Here’s how to prevent and treat a sinus infection.

Symptoms of a sinus infection during pregnancy

Sinusitis can develop at any point during the first, second, or third trimester of pregnancy. This is an infection and inflammation in the lining of your sinuses. The sinuses are air-filled pockets located around the face and nose.

A sinus infection can cause different symptoms, including:

mucus drainage
stuffy nose
pain and pressure around the face
sore throat
headache
fever
coughing

The symptoms can be worrisome, but there are ways to treat and prevent a sinus infection during pregnancy.

What causes a sinus infection?

Symptoms of a sinus infection can mimic other conditions like allergies and the common cold. An acute infection can last up to four weeks. Chronic infections can last more than 12 weeks. Sinusitis during pregnancy can be triggered by a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection.

In some cases, a sinus infection is a complication of the common cold. You’re also at higher risk for a sinus infection if you have allergies. In both conditions, mucus can block the sinus cavities and result in swelling and inflammation. This can lead to an infection.

A sinus infection causes unpleasant symptoms. Although it can make you feel worse while pregnant, relief is available.

Treating a sinus infection while pregnant

You may be concerned about taking medication for a sinus infection while pregnant. Your concerns are valid. The good news is that there are over-the-counter (OTC) medications that are safe to take while pregnant.

For example, you can relieve a sinus headache and sore throat with acetaminophen (Tylenol). Make sure you take the pain reliever as directed.

Other medications might be safe to take during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor before you take:

decongestants
antihistamines
expectorants
cough suppressants

Aspirin (Bayer) isn’t recommended during pregnancy. Likewise, avoid ibuprofen (Advil) unless you’re under a doctor’s supervision. Ibuprofen has been linked to pregnancy complications, such as reduced amniotic fluid and miscarriage.

Consult your doctor if you have questions about safe medications to take while treating a sinus infection during pregnancy.

Home remedies for a sinus infection during pregnancy

Medications like cough suppressants, pain relievers, and decongestants can relieve symptoms of an infection. But if you want to avoid using medications during pregnancy, you can treat your symptoms with home remedies.

Increasing your fluid intake can ease a sore throat, loosen mucus drainage, and clear a stuffy nose. Ideal fluids include:

water
citrus juices
decaf teas
broth

Here are some other home remedies to relieve your sinus infection symptoms:

Use saline drops from the pharmacy, or make your own drops using 1 cup of warm water, 1/8 teaspoon of salt, and a pinch of baking soda.
Run a humidifier at night to keep your nasal passage clear and thin mucus.
Sleep with more than one pillow to elevate your head. This stops mucus from accumulating in your sinuses at night.
Use steam to help loosen the mucus.
Gargle with warm salt water to soothe a sore throat, or suck on throat lozenges.
Slow down and relax. Rest can strengthen your immune system and help you fight the infection.

If you have facial pain or headaches from sinusitis, relieve pain by placing a hot or cold pack on your forehead, or gently massage your forehead. Taking a warm bath may also provide relief from a sinus headache. Be sure the water isn’t too hot. Hot baths should be avoided in pregnancy.

When to see your doctor

A sinus infection can resolve itself with home treatment. But there are times when you should see a doctor.

Make an appointment with your doctor if your symptoms don’t improve with OTC medications or home remedies, or if your symptoms worsen.

Contact your doctor if you have a fever higher than 101°F (38°C), or if you start coughing up green or yellow mucus. Also see your doctor if you have recurrent sinus infections.

Leaving a severe sinus infection untreated increases the risk of complications, such as meningitis. Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes in the brain or spinal cord.

An untreated infection can spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, eyes, and skin. It can also affect your sense of smell.

Tests for a sinus infection during pregnancy

If you seek medical attention, your doctor may conduct a variety of tests. These include:

Nasal endoscopy. Your doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube into your nose to examine your sinuses.
Imaging tests. Your doctor may order a CT scan or an MRI to take pictures of your sinuses to help them confirm a diagnosis.

Depending on your specific case, your doctor may also order a nasal and sinus culture to determine the underlying cause of your sinus infection. You may also undergo allergy testing to see whether allergies are triggering your chronic sinus infections.

Next steps

Getting a sinus infection while pregnant isn’t fun, but there are ways to prevent and lower your risk.

These infections often develop after the common cold, so try to do everything possible to avoid getting sick with a cold. Limit contact with sick people. Consider wearing a facial mask to protect yourself from germs. It’s also important to wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your mouth and nose.

If you have allergies, ask your doctor about pregnancy-safe antihistamines to manage your symptoms (prescription or OTC). Also avoid situations that can trigger an allergy flare-up. Avoid establishments with heavy scents or cigarette smoke. Stop using fragrances and cleaning products with strong odors.

Dry air prevents the sinuses from draining, so using a humidifier to increase the moisture level in your home can also reduce your risk of a sinus infection.

Last medically reviewed on May 17, 2018

Parenthood
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Health

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Can I take ibuprofen when I’m pregnant? (2016).
nhs.uk/chq/Pages/2398.aspx?CategoryID=54
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2018). Acute sinusitis.
mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acute-sinusitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351671
Tobah YB. (2015). Is it safe to take aspirin during pregnancy?
mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/expert-answers/aspirin-during-pregnancy/faq-20058167

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

May 17, 2018

Written By

Valencia Higuera

Edited By

Nizam Khan (TechSpace)

Medically Reviewed By

Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT

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Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT — By Valencia Higuera on May 17, 2018

Treatment of sinusitis during pregnancy

Any inflammatory processes during pregnancy can provoke various pathologies in the development of the newborn. And if you try to treat colds on your own or take antibiotics, then this will have an extremely negative impact on the health of the unborn baby. Treatment of sinusitis during pregnancy in the clinic of Dr. Sichinava allows you to quickly get rid of cold symptoms and at the same time absolutely does not harm the baby and his mother.

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the nasopharynx that spreads to several sinuses. Depending on the affected sinuses, a pregnant woman has the following symptoms:

Sphenoid sinuses - a pregnant woman feels pain in the crown, occiput, accompanied by sinusitis;
Frontal sinuses - paroxysmal headaches in the forehead, light hurts the eyes, eyelids swell, hyperthermia is observed;
Ethmoid labyrinth - incessant aching headache, which is concentrated at the bridge of the nose, runny nose with purulent discharge, high fever, shortness of breath, pain in the eyes.

Sinusitis is divided into several categories according to the type of pathogen:

Purulent;
Viral;
Odontogenic;
Allergic;
Fungal.

Sinusitis is an infectious disease that can be contracted while on the road, at a antenatal clinic, in a shop or while walking in a busy city centre. The risk of infection increases significantly with a decrease in immunity during pregnancy.

In the treatment of sinusitis according to the method of Dr. Sichinava, there is no need to take antibiotics and other potent medications that are contraindicated during pregnancy. The nasal sinuses are washed by introducing a phytodrainage spray.

Phytospray was developed by the clinic specialists and can be used both during pregnancy and for children from the age of four. When exposed to this drug on the nasopharynx, not only the sinuses are cleaned, but also the lacrimal, auditory tubes, which often remain unhealed.

The use of phytospray for sinusitis eliminates the need for such procedures as "cuckoo", YAMIK, punching. The advantages of using a phytodrainage spray over traditional sinusitis treatments are as follows:

Edema decreases after the first treatment;
Accumulated mucus is quickly absorbed and excreted;
All sinuses open;
No complications;
Spray acts on mucous membranes and deep tissue layers;
Phytospray effect persists for 2 days;
Sinusitis is completely cured after a course of 8 treatments.

Conservative treatment of ENT diseases is successfully used in infectious and viral colds such as:

Adenoids in children;
Treatment of sinusitis in pregnant women;
Sinusitis;
Sphenoiditis;
Fronts;
Ethmoiditis.

After a course of treatment in our clinic, the mucous membranes of the nasopharynx acquire the ability to resist various pathogenic microorganisms that cause various diseases when they enter the upper respiratory tract.

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causes, symptoms, methods of diagnosis and treatment

The inflammatory process that covers the maxillary sinuses is called sinusitis. It develops when pathogenic microflora enters the sinuses, causing severe inflammation. It is characterized by a feeling of heaviness, local pain in the projection of the sinuses.

General information

During pregnancy, a natural decrease in immunity occurs. Even the common cold is often accompanied by complications. One of the most common side effects is sinusitis. The disease is caused by various pathogenic microorganisms that actively multiply on the mucous membranes of the nose. Pathology negatively affects the well-being of a woman, the development of the fetus. Therefore, when the first signs of the disease appear, in order to cure sinusitis without consequences, it is urgent to consult a doctor.

Causes of disease

Sinusitis (maxillary sinusitis, maxillary rhinosinusitis) is an infectious disease in which the inflammatory process is localized in one or both maxillary or maxillary sinuses.

Sinusitis during pregnancy can develop as a result of the action of pathogens - influenza viruses, parainfluenza, rhinovirus, adenovirus. Less commonly, the disease is caused by bacteria - Haemophilus influenzae, pneumococcus, staphylococcus, streptococcus. Fungal chronic rhinosinusitis develops with a significant decrease in the body's resistance against the background of oncological pathologies, HIV, and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.

Sinusitis in pregnant women in the 1st trimester develops as a result of the presence of the following factors:

deviated nasal septum, narrow nasal passages;
infectious pathologies of the upper respiratory tract;
chronic rhinitis, tonsillitis;
polyps in the nasal cavity;
mechanical damage to the nasal mucosa;
frequent hypothermia;
decreased immunity against the background of an unbalanced diet, stress, beriberi, a sedentary lifestyle;
bronchial asthma, cystic fibrosis, AIDS.

Contact with allergens, inhalation of cigarette smoke can provoke the appearance of sinusitis during pregnancy in the 1st trimester.

Symptoms of maxillary sinusitis

The disease occurs in acute and chronic forms. In pregnant women, an exacerbation of chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinuses often occurs.

Symptoms of sinusitis in pregnant women:

severe headache in the forehead, temples, often radiates to the jaw;
nasal congestion, runny nose, thick mucous or purulent discharge;
a feeling of fullness, soreness in the bridge of the nose, under the eyes, in the upper part of the cheeks, intensifies in the evening, when tilting or turning the head;
the temperature rises to 38 or more degrees;
swelling of the eyelids;
deterioration or loss of smell;
weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite.

Signs of sinusitis in cases of exacerbation of the chronic form during pregnancy, the temperature rises to 37.2-37.5 degrees, the nose is blocked, moderate headache worries, various discharges from the nose appear.

The appearance of green mucus in sinusitis is one of the main signs of purulent inflammation. But it appears with severe inflammation and advanced disease. To avoid such a situation, it is important to immediately contact a specialist in case of discomfort in the maxillary sinuses.

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Which doctors to contact

As soon as pain in the sinuses appears, diseases of the ENT organs are detected, it is necessary to consult a therapist. Upon examination, he will refer to an otolaryngologist, radiologist, surgeon.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis is complex, based on the patient's complaints, symptoms. Laboratory and instrumental diagnostics include:

Complete blood count, C-reactive protein test. Based on the results, it is possible to assess the severity of the inflammatory process, to determine the type of infection. It is carried out in rare cases or in severe comorbidities.
Rhinoscopy. Examination of the nasal cavity using special mirrors to assess the condition of the mucous membrane and septum, to detect secretions.

The main method of diagnosis is x-ray. Irradiation doses do not exceed permissible safe limits. An alternative diagnostic method is the sinus scan of the maxillary sinuses.

Features of treatment

During childbearing, many drugs are contraindicated. The classical treatment regimen involves taking antibiotics, but such therapy is not suitable for expectant mothers. In severe cases, the doctor may prescribe local antibacterial drugs in the form of a spray, nasal drops.

Treatment of sinusitis in pregnant women - drugs and auxiliary methods:

vasoconstrictor drops;
saline solutions for washing the nose;
antipyretics based on paracetamol;
washing the maxillary sinuses by moving the liquid ("cuckoo") - a drug is injected into one nostril, the medicine is pulled out through the other along with purulent masses;
puncture of the maxillary sinus - a puncture is made with a special needle, pus is pumped out with a syringe, the cavity is washed with an antiseptic.

The choice of drugs depends on the duration of pregnancy. Many drugs that cannot be used in the early stages can be used to treat sinusitis in pregnant women in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Treatment is usually carried out at home with the obligatory condition of visiting a day hospital for sinus sanitation procedures. This is shown in the event that a puncture of the septum was made; in severe cases, hospitalization is indicated. Only a specialist can treat sinusitis for pregnant women.

If you have been prescribed treatment, but it turned out to be ineffective, you are afraid of getting a puncture and you want to know alternative methods of therapy, please contact our doctors. Remotely, they will consult on all issues, select analogues of drugs, study indications and contraindications, and clarify whether they are allowed in a particular period of gestation.

What is dangerous sinusitis during pregnancy

Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses does not directly affect the development of the fetus. But with constant congestion, nasal breathing is disturbed. The brain and other internal organs suffer from a lack of oxygen, fetal hypoxia develops.

The maxillary sinuses are located close to many important organs into which purulent masses can get. The consequences of maxillary sinusitis can manifest as acute pharyngitis, tonsillitis, otitis media, meningitis, encephalitis, sepsis, inflammation of the bone walls of the orbit of the eyes, conjunctivitis, exophthalmos, osteomyelitis.

Important! Sinusitis is especially dangerous in the early stages. During this period, the rudiments of internal organs and systems are laid and formed in the fetus. Due to the lack of oxygen, this process can be disrupted.

Methods of prevention

There are no specific recommendations for preventing sinusitis during pregnancy. But following a few simple rules will help reduce the risk of inflammation of the maxillary sinuses:

after visiting crowded places, rinse the nasal passages with saline;
take vitamin complexes;
eat a balanced diet, consume more fresh vegetables and fruits, natural fermented milk products;
avoid stress, hypothermia, overwork;
do not self-medicate even a common cold, do not use folk recipes without a doctor's prescription;
avoid crowded places during epidemics of respiratory infections;

As a preventive measure, you can perform breathing exercises. Close one nostril, inhale, exhale through the mouth. Repeat 10 times for each nostril. Perform gymnastics 3-5 times a day.

FAQ

Diagnosed sinusitis in the 1st trimester of pregnancy. How dangerous is it?

Sinusitis negatively affects the condition of a woman. Various complications arise due to constant nasal congestion, nasal breathing disorders.

What are the symptoms of maxillary sinusitis?

Worried about a runny nose, nasal congestion, deterioration in general condition, pain in the bridge of the nose and under the eyes, with the accumulation of pus, there is pressure in the sinus zone.

What can be used by pregnant women with sinusitis? What folk remedies will help?

Any treatment of sinusitis at home during pregnancy is categorically contraindicated. Even safe products can cause severe allergic reactions in pregnant women.

Expert opinion:

Against the background of a weakened immune system, sinusitis in pregnant women is a common problem. The disease negatively affects the course of pregnancy and fetal development. It is contraindicated to treat sinusitis during pregnancy on your own. Safe drugs can only be selected by a doctor.

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Menshikova Maria Viktorovna obstetrician-gynecologist

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