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What Happens When You Get Strep Throat While Pregnant
Although, as an expectant mother, experiencing strep throat while pregnant may not be a dangerous condition, having a high fever, which is often associated with the strep infection, can become harmful during pregnancy.
In the following article, A Date With Baby team has taken a look at what happens when you get strep throat during the first trimester, what you can take to protect you and your baby, and easy to follow home remedies to treat the condition.
What Is The Main Cause Of Strep Throat?
Strep throat infection, or streptococcal pharyngitis, is an infectious condition caused by streptococcal bacteria. The bacteria induce inflammation, irritation, as well as swelling of the mucous membrane lining the back of the throat.
Streptococcal bacteria has, in fact, many types. However, the main cause of strep throat is a group of bacteria called Streptococcus A. These bacteria attack pharyngeal tissue, resulting in inflammation of the tonsils as well as the throat.
Group B Streptococcus is another main type of streptococcal bacteria. These bacteria are much less common and generally cause bacterial pneumonia, blood infections, and other diseases.
Since the Group B Streptococcus is typically present in the vagina, it may be passed on to the infant during birth. Hence, most women should undergo a test between the 35th and 37th weeks of pregnancy for Group B Streptococcus.
What Are The Symptoms?
Many people can have a bacterial infection, while absolutely showing no symptoms. People with a strep throat infection, typically develop symptoms from moderate to serious within 1 to 4 days of first being exposed to the bacteria.
In children and expectant women, the common symptom of strep throat is the development of a raw, swollen sore throat, which appears unexpectedly. The tonsils will also have white spots that are inflamed and swollen. Furthermore, you may also have the following symptoms:
- Stomach pain, nausea, and loss of appetite
- White spots on the throat or tonsils with or without fever
- Tiredness and feeling of discomfort
- Extreme pain when swallowing
- Headache
- Fever, possibly 38.8 Celcius or higher
- Chills
- Sore throat
You might also suffer from body aches or a harsh, red skin rash in rare cases, where the latter may indicate a potential scarlet fever.
What Happens When You Get Strep Throat While Pregnant?
Mayo Clinic states that untreated strep throat while pregnant may also possibly lead to severe complications, such as inflammation of the kidney and rheumatic fever.
When to see a doctor when you have a sore throat while pregnant?
Having a high fever is the only symptom that might actually become dangerous for your little one. When you are in your first trimester, a severe fever may prevent the vital organs of the fetus from proper development.
Once you experience a fever, you should make every effort to immediately reduce it. However, if the fever is persistent and remains high, immediately contact your doctor to test the health of the developing fetus and get proper treatment.
For pregnant women, having a strep throat condition is generally considered not dangerous, particularly when you visit a doctor and get adequate medical care once you experience the above-mentioned symptoms.
In addition, medications that your doctor prescribes for strep throat treatment, such as penicillin and cephalosporin, should be safe for both you and the baby to use during pregnancy.
What Can I Take For Sore Throat During Pregnancy?
You can safely take, as per your doctor’s prescription, certain antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, penicillin, and cephalexin for the treatment of strep throat.
- Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is classified as a Class B medication in pregnancy. The use of amoxicillin while pregnant has no side effects on the baby’s growth or development, according to animal studies.
There is, however, still a shortage of properly controlled clinical research on human studies. Amoxicillin is generally given to pregnant women when the benefit is greater than the risk.
- Cephalexin
Studies carried on animals have been demonstrated that cephalexin does not have any adverse effects on the developing fetus, while also having no impact on fertility.
Nevertheless, it has been proven that cephalexin can cross through the placenta, and can be distributed in the fetus. Furthermore, since the number of controlled studies of cephalexin is limited, pregnant women should not use the medication unless its benefits outweigh the risk.
- Penicillin
FDA classifies penicillin as a category B drug. This means that unless expectant mothers have a particular allergy to the substance itself, there is no negative impact observed in its usage.
Antibiotic usage can often lead to diarrhea. Therefore, you should consult your doctor if you think that the drug may lead to incontinance.
Some studies suggest that breast milk may also pass small doses of penicillin. Nevertheless, penicillin is shown to have no side effects when used during pregnancy.
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Strep throat gets even more uncomfortable with a feeling dryness. Alternatively, you can apply the following to overcome the symptom:
- Avoid drinking coffee
- Maintain proper oral hygiene – regularly brush and floss your teeth
- Keep the humidifier running
- Keep yourself well hydrated
Home Remedies For Cold During Pregnancy With No Antibiotics (Add Internal Link)
There are a number of home remedies you can apply to recover from strep throat. In general, keeping yourself properly hydrated is one of the most important factors for recovery. While avoiding acidic drinks, which otherwise may lead to even more irritation in your throat, drink a lot of juice and water.
Can apple cider vinegar help to get over strep throat?
There is no evidence indicating the efficacy of ACV in killing bacteria when you have strep throat, although apple cider vinegar does actually have certain effects on bacteria. Some people claim, however, that drinking ACV may have a calming effect, reducing pain during strep throat while pregnant.
Cold drinks will help you to numb pain, while warm foods, such as broth will soothe your throat. Also, garlic with a mixture of salt is also found to be effective in relieving the pain and fighting bacteria in the throat.
Another one of the most effective home methods of treating strep throat bacteria is garlic. This natural antibiotic can help to alleviate the symptoms while boosting your immune system. You may consume garlic in different ways to benefit from this superfood.
For example, chewing a clove of garlic and letting its juice to flow through your throat is one of the effective ways. In addition, you can also try the following: take a quarter teaspoon of cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and a teaspoon of garlic. Mix them in a cup of water and drink it a few times a day.
Furthermore, sore throat sprays are also shown to be beneficial and safe while pregnant. In order to further relieve irritating, painful, and itchy throat, you need to make sure that your room is warm and humid.
