Sinus pain pregnancy

Sinus Infection While Pregnant - American Pregnancy Association

Sinus pressure, a stuffy nose, and a sore throat? Welcome to a sinus infection during pregnancy. Sinus infections while pregnant at the same time makes being sick even worse.
Sinusitis occurs when there is an infection in the lining of one of the four nasal cavities, which can cause inflammation and a nasal obstruction inhibiting the proper drainage of mucus. This can result in symptoms such as a stuffy nose and painful pressure around your cheeks and eyes. Such infections may be caused by a bacteria, virus, or fungus, although the cold is the most common contributing factor of sinus infections. Learn more about dealing with a cold during pregnancy.
If you have a sinus infection during pregnancy, you may be tempted to take some medication for a quick fix. However, while certain medications are safe to use during pregnancy, other commonly used medications may not be safe to take while pregnant. You may also find that some home remedies may be just as effective in alleviating your symptoms and helping you recover.

Medication: How to Alleviate Sinus Congestion While Pregnant:

Medications used to treat acute sinus infections include cefprozil (Cefzil) and amoxicillin-clavulanate. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is also regarded as safe to use during pregnancy for pain relief and/or headaches. Additionally, short-term use of decongestants, antihistamines, expectorants, and cough suppressants for upper-respiratory infections are generally regarded as safe during pregnancy in limited amounts.
However, you will need to avoid aspirin, and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc…).
You may want to talk with your doctor for specific information on which medications pose the least risk for you and your baby. Overall, while there are some safe medications to take during pregnancy, it is best to limit your use of medication while pregnant and opt for other safer remedies.

Home Remedies: How to Alleviate a Congestion Naturally

There are many safe home remedies you can use to alleviate your symptoms and recover from a sinus infection:

Drink plenty of fluids such as water, broth, and citrus juice. Staying hydrated is important for helping you fight infection and for clearing a stuffy nose.
Use saline nasal irrigation or saline nose drops. You can make your own saline drops by combining 1 cup of warm water with 1/8 tsp salt and a tiny pinch of baking soda.
Use a humidifier at night. This will help clear nasal passages. You may also lean over a pan of boiling water taken off the stove, place a towel over your head, and breathe in the steam. This helps open your nasal passages and loosens mucus in your chest.
Elevating your head with a couple of pillows while lying down may make breathing easier. Using nasal strips also helps open nasal passages.
For a sore throat, gargle salt water (1/4 tsp salt per 8 ounces of water), drink a warm liquid or suck on ice. Honey and lemon may also soothe a sore throat.
Make sure you are getting plenty of sleep as this will help your immune system fight the infection.
During pregnancy, it is common to lose your appetite, and feeling sick may not help. However, even if you don’t have an appetite, it is important to eat well. If you lose your appetite, it may help to eat smaller meals throughout the day. Make sure you are eating nutrient-dense foods such as fruits and vegetables. Soup may also be a soothing option.

For headaches:

Use hot or cold packs on your shoulders or neck or a cold pack on your forehead.
Getting a massage, or taking a warm bath may also help alleviate headaches.

When to Contact Your Doctor:

If you are coughing up green or yellow mucus
If you have a fever above 101° F
If you cannot eat or sleep

If your infection is not improving, your doctor may prescribe medication. Your doctor will determine the best medication to take that is safe for you and your baby. While sinus infections are not fun, there are ways you can take care of yourself either through medication or home remedies to alleviate your symptoms and promote your recovery.

Want to Know More?

Getting Sick While Pregnant
Vitamin D and Pregnancy
Cough and Cold During Pregnancy: Treatment and Prevention
Keep track of your medication by downloading the Fetal Life App for Apple and Android endorsed by the American Pregnancy Association. It features medicine tracking, meal recommendations, kicks counter, blood glucose tracking, and much more.

Compiled using information from the following sources:

1. Harms, R. W. (Ed.). (2004). Mayo Clinic guide to a healthy pregnancy (2nd ed.). New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

2. Jordan, R. G., Engstrom, J. L., Marfell, J. A., & Farley, C. L. (Eds.). (2014). Prenatal and postnatal care: A woman-centered approach. Ames, IA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

3. Larson, D. E. (Ed. in chief). (1996). Mayo Clinic family health book: The ultimate illustrated home medical reference. New York, NY: William Morrow and Company, Inc.

4. Simkin, P., Whalley, J., & Keppler, A. (1991). Pregnancy, childbirth, and the newborn: The complete guide. Gorham, K. (Ed.). Deephaven, MN: Meadowbrook Press.

Sinus Infection While Pregnant: Prevention and Treatment

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

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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

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

causes, symptoms, methods of diagnosis and treatment

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, maxillary sinuses.

The main causative agents of sinusitis are viruses. These are influenza virus and 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 immunity against the background of oncological pathologies, HIV, and uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.

Contact with allergens, inhalation of cigarette smoke can provoke the development of maxillary sinusitis during pregnancy.

Sinusitis in pregnant women - predisposing factors:

deviated nasal septum, excessively 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.

Infection in the maxillary sinuses can penetrate not only through the nose. Often, pathogens enter the sinuses from the carious teeth of the upper jaw. Our doctors at a remote consultation will tell you in more detail about the causes of the pathology and methods of treatment.

Symptoms of maxillary sinusitis

The disease occurs in acute and chronic forms. Pregnant women often experience exacerbation of chronic maxillary sinusitis.

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.

With an exacerbation of the chronic form of the disease during pregnancy, the temperature rises to 37.2-37.5 degrees, the nose is blocked, a moderate headache worries, and various discharges from the nose appear.

Pay attention! The appearance of green mucus in sinusitis is one of the main signs of purulent inflammation.

Diagnostics

If there are signs of maxillary sinusitis, it is necessary to visit the ENT. The doctor collects an anamnesis, conducts an external examination, palpation of the sinus area and lymph nodes.

Laboratory and instrumental diagnostics:

complete blood count, C-reactive protein analysis - according to the results, you can assess the severity of the inflammatory process, determine the type of infection;
rhinoscopy - examination of the nasal cavity with the help of special mirrors to assess the condition of the mucous membrane and septum, to identify secretions;
endoscopic examination - is prescribed to examine hard-to-reach areas of the nasal cavity;
sinus scanning - ultrasound of the maxillary sinuses.

Important! Radiation exposure is contraindicated during pregnancy. Therefore, X-ray, CT scan of the sinuses for the diagnosis of sinusitis in pregnant women in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd trimester is not prescribed.

Features of the treatment of maxillary sinusitis during pregnancy

How can sinusitis be treated during pregnancy? 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, but hospitalization is indicated in severe cases.

Important! Physiotherapy for the treatment of sinusitis during pregnancy is not prescribed.

What is the danger of sinusitis during pregnancy

Inflammation of the maxillary 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.

Consequences of maxillary sinusitis:

acute pharyngitis, tonsillitis, otitis;
meningitis, encephalitis;
sepsis;
inflammation of the bone walls of the orbit of the eyes, conjunctivitis, exophthalmos;
osteomyelitis is a purulent inflammation of the bones and bone marrow.

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. With a purulent form of the disease, pus can penetrate the brain and other nearby tissues, which leads to the development of dangerous pathological conditions. Another problem of sinusitis during pregnancy in the 1st, 2nd trimester is the complexity of treatment, potent antibiotics cannot be taken at these times.

What are the symptoms of maxillary sinusitis?

The initial symptoms of sinusitis are in many ways similar to the common cold. Worried about a runny nose, nasal congestion, deterioration of the general condition. But there are also specific manifestations of the disease. This is pain in the bridge of the nose and under the eyes, with the accumulation of pus there is pressure in the sinus area. Unpleasant sensations are aggravated by turning and tilting the head, subside in the prone position.

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. It is absolutely impossible to do any warming procedures - under the influence of heat, pathogens actively multiply, the infection spreads to neighboring tissues. The lack of proper treatment is the main reason for the transition of sinusitis to a chronic form, the development of complications. Only a doctor can treat sinusitis for pregnant women.

Why does maxillary rhinosinusitis occur in pregnant women?

The main reason is the weakening of the protective functions of the body, the woman becomes more susceptible to various viruses and bacteria. Sinusitis is a common complication of SARS, influenza during pregnancy. Other reasons include a tendency to allergies, the presence of carious teeth, chronic or acute diseases of the upper respiratory tract.

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. Self-medication is strictly contraindicated. Safe drugs can only be selected by a doctor.

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Menshikova Maria Viktorovna obstetrician-gynecologist

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