Contents:
- Medical Video: Pneumonia during pregnancy: What you need to know
- What causes pneumonia during pregnancy?
- In addition to coughing during pregnancy, what are the symptoms of maternal pneumonia?
- How to distinguish ordinary shortness of breath from those caused by pneumonia?
- Is handling pneumonia during pregnancy different from usual?
- Can pneumonia during pregnancy be prevented?
Medical Video: Pneumonia during pregnancy: What you need to know
Of the many types of infections that are vulnerable to attacking pregnant women, there is one that you need to be more aware of, namely pneumonia. Pneumonia during pregnancy can cause a high risk of complications and can adversely affect the safety of the fetus. Moreover, the symptoms of maternal pneumonia can be very similar to the symptoms of common cold and cough. So if you later cough during pregnancy, do not immediately underestimate. You should consult further with your obstetrician.
What causes pneumonia during pregnancy?
Pneumonia is an infection (virus, bacteria, or fungus) that attacks the lungs, and is usually a complication of a severe flu. Pregnant women are susceptible to infection because their immune system tends to weaken due to hormonal changes.
In addition, the risk of pneumonia will increase if during your pregnancy too:
- Having anemia.
- Have asthma.
- Active smoking during pregnancy.
- Routinely visiting the hospital so susceptible to infection (nosocomial infection or hospital acquired infection/HI)
- Having certain chronic diseases; for example HIV during pregnancy and has a low CD4.
In addition to coughing during pregnancy, what are the symptoms of maternal pneumonia?
Symptoms of pneumonia can be very similar to a normal cough. But if coughing during pregnancy gets worse from day to day and accompanied by sensations shortness of breath that is quite severe, this can be a sign of pneumonia. Especially if you remove phlegm yellow, green, and even bleed.
In addition, symptoms of pneumonia during pregnancy can include:
- The body feels hot (cold)
- Fever
- Shivering
- Excessive fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Breath fast and shallow
- Gag
- Throat pain
- Headache
- The whole body feels sore and aches.
Unlike the symptoms of cough during normal pregnancy which generally subsides quickly, symptoms of pneumonia will continue to appear throughout pregnancy from the first trimester to the third. The intensity of the severity also continues to increase, especially if you don't get treatment.
How to distinguish ordinary shortness of breath from those caused by pneumonia?
Shortness of breath is a common complaint throughout the pregnancy. In fact, some women can complain of shortness of breath in the early trimester of pregnancy.
This is because during pregnancy, you will experience an increase in the hormone progesterone which narrows the capacity of the lungs to store and expel air. Plus, weight will continue to increase throughout pregnancy which can suppress the mother's lungs.
However, it is more likely that pneumonia is caused by pneumonia if you cannot finish one sentence without stopping in the middle of the road to take an occasional breath.
Symptoms of pneumonia also causechest pain when coughing and taking a deep breath. Regular shortness of breath, including during pregnancy, will usually not make chest pain.
Is handling pneumonia during pregnancy different from usual?
Handling pneumonia during pregnancy is not so much different from ordinary pneumonia. But what needs to be considered, the immune system of pregnant women who tend to be low can cause pneumonia to appear more severe than infection in ordinary people.
In quite severe cases, pneumonia in pregnant women can cause babies born prematurely or with low weight (LBW), even miscarriages. That is why there must be medical treatment that is quickly qualified so as not to cause the risk of dangerous complications.
The doctor will first check your medical history from before pregnancy, melisten to lung sounds, get lung x-rays (in general, lung x-rays safe for pregnancy), until analysis of sputum (phlegm).
If it is caused by a bacterial infection, the doctor will give antibiotics that are safe for pregnancy such as cefalosporin or macrolides. If it is caused by a viral infection, the medicine is antiviral.
Besides the two drugs, you toomay be given febrifuge that is safe for pregnant women and is recommended to take a break and meet the needs of body fluids to avoid dehydration.
Do not carelessly consume non-prescription drugs or any herbal ingredients without consulting your obstetrician first.
Can pneumonia during pregnancy be prevented?
To prevent the occurrence of pneumonia, keep personal hygiene to avoid potential infections and maintain a healthy body condition throughout the pregnancy.
Wash your hands regularly with the right way, get enough rest, consume nutritious and balanced foods, get regular exercise, and avoid staying as close to someone who is sick as possible.
