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Suggest Treatment For Severe Cough And Cold During Pregnancy
Question: I am 6 weeks pregnant and have severe cough and sore throat and I think I need antibiotics .But I don't know if it is safe to take antibiotics or over the counter medicine for throat.
My throat hurts alot and I also have chest infection.
My throat hurts alot and I also have chest infection.
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
You are right to ask, because there are many medications that should not be taken in early pregnancy.
If your throat is very sore, you have swollen, tender lymph nodes and fever or chills, then you should go in to see a doctor to have a throat swab to make sure this is not strep throat. Because untreated strep throat can have complications for you, such as affecting the heart. If it turns out to be strep, then you should take antibiotics, and there are antibiotics that can treat strep that are safe for your baby. But a bacterial infection should be confirmed before taking an antibiotic, because as with any medication during pregnancy, you don't want to take it if you don't have to.
The XXXXXXX College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has this to say about antibiotics in pregnancy:
"Commonly used antibiotics, such as penicillins, erythromycin, and cephalosporins, have not been found to be associated with an increased risk of birth defects. However, the evidence regarding an association between the nitrofuran and sulfonamide classes of antibiotics and birth defects is mixed. As with all patients, antibiotics should be prescribed for pregnant women only for appropriate indications and for the shortest effective duration."
So if you need an antibiotic, limit it to ones in the classes of penicillins, erythromycin, and cephalosporins.
A chest infection can be either viral or bacterial. If what you are coughing up is discolored, and all day (not just discolored after getting up), and a fever, it may be bacterial bronchitis.
Now, if you don't have a bacterial infection (most respiratory infections are caused by viruses not bacteria), you can try safe things such as by gargling with salt water: use 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of table salt to 4 to 8 ounces of warm water. Gargle the solution and then spit it out.
Drinking hot (non-caffeine) teas, and hot broths (not so hot it burns you!) can ease the sore throat. As can occasionally sipping honey.
Drinking a lot of liquids right now is important to help move the secretions too.
I am sorry you are sick, while pregnant!
I hope you are feeling better soon.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
You are right to ask, because there are many medications that should not be taken in early pregnancy.
If your throat is very sore, you have swollen, tender lymph nodes and fever or chills, then you should go in to see a doctor to have a throat swab to make sure this is not strep throat. Because untreated strep throat can have complications for you, such as affecting the heart. If it turns out to be strep, then you should take antibiotics, and there are antibiotics that can treat strep that are safe for your baby. But a bacterial infection should be confirmed before taking an antibiotic, because as with any medication during pregnancy, you don't want to take it if you don't have to.
The XXXXXXX College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has this to say about antibiotics in pregnancy:
"Commonly used antibiotics, such as penicillins, erythromycin, and cephalosporins, have not been found to be associated with an increased risk of birth defects. However, the evidence regarding an association between the nitrofuran and sulfonamide classes of antibiotics and birth defects is mixed. As with all patients, antibiotics should be prescribed for pregnant women only for appropriate indications and for the shortest effective duration."
So if you need an antibiotic, limit it to ones in the classes of penicillins, erythromycin, and cephalosporins.
A chest infection can be either viral or bacterial. If what you are coughing up is discolored, and all day (not just discolored after getting up), and a fever, it may be bacterial bronchitis.
Now, if you don't have a bacterial infection (most respiratory infections are caused by viruses not bacteria), you can try safe things such as by gargling with salt water: use 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of table salt to 4 to 8 ounces of warm water. Gargle the solution and then spit it out.
Drinking hot (non-caffeine) teas, and hot broths (not so hot it burns you!) can ease the sore throat. As can occasionally sipping honey.
Drinking a lot of liquids right now is important to help move the secretions too.
I am sorry you are sick, while pregnant!
I hope you are feeling better soon.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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