Pneumonia in pregnant women poses a serious threat not only to the health of the woman, but also to the unborn child. The Yusupov Hospital has all the conditions for the treatment of pneumonia: cozy rooms with central ventilation, equipped with air conditioners that allow you to maintain a comfortable temperature, attentive and respectful attitude of staff towards patients, individual nutritious meals.
Pregnant women with pneumonia are treated by candidates and doctors of medical sciences, doctors of the highest category, and leading specialists in the field of pulmonology. Pregnant women are examined using high-tech devices. Modern effective drugs with a minimal range of side effects are used to treat patients. When drawing up an individual treatment regimen, doctors take into account the peculiarities of the course of pneumonia during pregnancy.
What is pneumonia in pregnant women
Pneumonia is a serious infectious disease.
The second name for this disease is pneumonia. A distinctive feature of this pathology is its acute course and high risk of developing serious complications.
During the development of the inflammatory process, the lungs and the internal space of the alveoli are affected.
It should be noted that for pregnant women, pneumonia is a very dangerous disease. It is one of the most common causes of death of mother and child.
Women who smoke are more susceptible to this disease.
How dangerous (and is it dangerous?) pneumonia for pregnant women?
The consequences and complications of pneumonia manifest themselves primarily on the woman’s health; the following pathologies can develop against the background of the disease:
- respiratory failure;
- gangrene of the lung;
- abscess;
- exudative pleurisy;
- obstructive syndrome;
- infectious-toxic shock;
- meningoencephalitis, meningitis;
- psychoses;
- sepsis (blood poisoning);
- myocarditis, endocarditis.
Each of these pathologies poses a danger to the development of the fetus and its health.
Despite the low probability of developing complications, it is not recommended to forget about them; advanced inflammation can lead to miscarriage, and in later stages it can provoke premature birth .
For the unborn child
Pneumonia in the first trimester can greatly affect the differentiation of fetal tissues; the danger is posed both by the disease itself and by taking antibiotics.
Pneumonia at this stage can lead to miscarriage or miscarriage; the newborn appears at term, but with underweight.
Untreated pneumonia makes breastfeeding impossible , in this case there is a high risk of infection of the fetus and exposure to drugs through milk.
This has a negative impact on the baby’s health, since the process of obtaining the necessary antibodies from mother’s milk is difficult.
Deadly pneumonia - program “About the Most Important Thing”
Causes of the appearance and development of the disease in pregnant women
The risk of pneumonia in expectant mothers, like other people, is higher during certain seasons of the year.
Thus, pneumonia is a seasonal disease that occurs as a result of the following reasons:
- Hypothermia of the body;
- Viral effects on the body;
- Smoking;
- Reduced efficiency of the immune system;
- Bacterial effects on the body;
- Complication after a runny nose, pharyngitis or bronchitis;
- Against the background of inflammatory processes in the body of any nature.
Bacterial pathogens of pneumonia:
- Pneumococci;
- Streptococci;
- Staphylococcus;
- Gram-negative rods;
- Enterobacteriaceae;
- Mycoplasmas;
- Chlamydia;
- Actinomycetes.
In most cases, pneumonia is transmitted by airborne droplets from an infected person to a healthy person.
Diagnosis of the disease
Pneumonia can be suspected by noticing symptoms of pneumonia in pregnant women (cough, rapid development of fever).
The diagnosis is confirmed after:
- microscopic examination of sputum taken from a sick patient with Gram stain;
- inoculation of sputum on various nutrient media;
- general and biochemical blood test;
- blood gas studies.
Another method for diagnosing pneumonia is chest radiography . It is worth noting that radiation can adversely affect the fetus. When you visit a radiologist, you must warn him about your pregnancy. To protect the baby, he will provide a special metal screen that does not allow radiation to pass through.
Symptoms of pneumonia in pregnant women
It is important to know the symptoms and signs of pneumonia to quickly diagnose the problem.
Symptoms of this disease have the following manifestations:
- Very high body temperature;
- Chills and feverish manifestations;
- Respiratory failure and shortness of breath;
- Cough;
- Painful sensations in the chest cavity;
- Increased fatigue;
- Feeling dizzy;
- General malaise of the body.
These symptoms are characteristic of the acute onset of the disease.
Pneumonia may remain latent for some time. This is extremely dangerous, because... entails serious complications.
In this case, the symptoms are slightly different:
- Body temperature rises no higher than 38 degrees;
- Runny nose;
- Cough.
A distinctive feature of pneumonia from ARVI in this case is temperature.
After the first rise, it falls, but after some time it rises again and does not get knocked down.
During pregnancy, pneumonia is more severe. This is due to the fact that as the uterus grows, the lungs shrink and their area becomes significantly smaller.
In turn, this significantly increases the load on the lungs and heart.
In pregnant women, pneumonia is often hidden and does not have pronounced symptoms.
Symptoms of manifestations
The symptoms of this disease directly depend on the severity and degree of damage to the tissues of the respiratory organs and the pathogen itself. Basically, the symptoms are the same as in other patients, but there are also more intense courses of the disease in pregnant women.
The following symptoms of pneumonia in pregnant women can be identified:
- Signs of inflammation of the respiratory system. Unpleasant painful sensations in the chest area, a prolonged dry cough, which over time will turn into a softer and more moist cough.
- Signs of respiratory system disorder. Paleness of the skin, shortness of breath, cyanosis of the nasolabial triangle.
- Poisoning of the body. Headaches, lethargy, fatigue, constant temperature fluctuations.
Pregnancy is a wonderful and at the same time difficult period. Immunity is reduced, so the expectant mother should be more concerned about her health and the development of the future baby.
Types of disease
In modern medical practice, there are several classifications of pneumonia.
Types of pneumonia depending on the location of infection:
- Aspiration – occurs as a result of the contents of the digestive system entering the lungs;
- Nosocomial – affects the body of a person who is admitted to a medical hospital within 48 hours of arrival;
- Community-acquired – infection with this type of pneumonia occurs outside of a hospital setting;
- Complicating immune diseases.
Classification of pneumonia depending on the pathogen:
- Viral – occurs as a result of damage to the body by viruses;
- Bacterial – occurs due to the proliferation of bacteria in the body;
- Fungal – the lungs are affected by microscopic fungi;
- Helminthic - the cause is parasitic worms that live in the lungs.
Types of pneumonia depending on the severity of the disease:
- Lightweight;
- Average;
- Heavy.
Complications of pneumonia during pregnancy
If a pregnant woman's body is affected by pneumonia, it is extremely important to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Late assistance or complete lack of treatment can cause complications such as:
- Inflammation of the pleura;
- Edema of the lung tissue;
- Liver dysfunction;
- Heart dysfunction;
- Miscarriage;
- Premature onset of labor;
- Death.
Pneumonia in the mother can also have consequences for the child. Very often in such situations, intrauterine fetal hypoxia develops.
If pneumonia occurs in the early stages of pregnancy, this can provoke the occurrence of intrauterine malformations of the fetus.
Methods of therapy during pregnancy
Only a doctor should prescribe treatment for pneumonia for pregnant women.
Pneumonia during pregnancy in the first trimester can provoke spontaneous miscarriage or fetal death due to oxygen starvation and exposure to toxic substances. In addition, in the first three months the vital organs of the child develop, which makes antibacterial therapy and detoxification treatment of pneumonia unacceptable.
Therefore, the doctor must carefully examine the pregnant woman and select the most gentle therapeutic course so as not to cause additional harm to both the woman herself and her unborn child. In severe cases of pneumonia, abortion is recommended.
The second and third trimester are not so dangerous, since antibiotics are allowed. But pneumonia can cause premature labor. The greatest danger from pneumonia is directly during childbirth, since there is a high probability that placental or respiratory failure will occur.
Diagnosis of pneumonia in pregnant women
After detecting symptoms characteristic of pneumonia, you must consult a specialist as soon as possible for a final diagnosis.
At the appointment after the external examination, the doctor will listen to the woman’s chest using a phonendoscope.
If the gestation period is more than 10 weeks, then it becomes possible to conduct an X-ray examination of the expectant mother’s lungs.
In addition, the woman will have to undergo the following tests:
- General blood analysis;
- General urine analysis;
- Analysis of mucous discharge from the nose, pharynx and nasopharynx.
After passing all the necessary examinations, the doctor, based on the results obtained, prescribes treatment that is acceptable at this stage of pregnancy.
Consequences of pneumonia
Pneumonia is a serious disease that can cause many complications. During pregnancy, the following conditions may develop:
- spontaneous miscarriage (up to 22 weeks);
- premature birth (after 22 weeks);
- intrauterine infection of the fetus;
- infection of the newborn during childbirth;
- the formation of serious developmental defects in the child;
- fetal death at any stage of pregnancy;
- polyhydramnios;
- placental insufficiency;
- fetal hypoxia;
- delayed intrauterine development of the child.
Pneumonia not only threatens the life and health of the fetus. In severe cases, pneumonia can lead to the formation of a lung abscess. This condition is accompanied by severe respiratory failure and requires surgical treatment. The transition of inflammation to the pleura with the development of secondary pleurisy is also possible.
Death from pneumonia is now quite rare, but such a development cannot be completely ruled out. That is why doctors strongly recommend not to self-medicate this disease. If a common cold persists and the cough does not stop, you should definitely see a doctor. Such symptoms may indicate the development of bronchitis or pneumonia, which means they should be treated by a qualified specialist.
Treatment of pneumonia during pregnancy
Pneumonia occurs quite often during pregnancy, so you need to know what and how to properly treat this disease.
Attention! You should not self-medicate if you suspect pneumonia. This can provoke the development of very serious complications that are dangerous for both the mother and the unborn child.
The method of treatment is selected by the doctor depending on what pathogen caused the disease.
Bacterial forms are treated with antibiotics; in the case of a viral nature of pneumonia, such therapy is meaningless.
Viral pneumonia is treated with antiviral drugs and drugs that increase the activity of the immune system.
How much treatment for pneumonia also depends on the nature of the pathogen and the severity of the pathology. Treatment for viral pneumonia takes about 3 weeks on average.
Treatment of pneumonia in the first trimester can be carried out with antibacterial and antiviral agents. Often such treatment requires subsequent termination of pregnancy.
In the 2nd and 3rd trimester, pneumonia can be treated with antibiotics. The likelihood of miscarriage during this period is much lower.
Treatment
Pneumonia is in no way a contraindication for continuing pregnancy. However, if it is severe in the first trimester, especially against the background of influenza or other viral pathology, you should carefully weigh all possible negative effects on the fetus and even consider the issue of termination.
To prevent complications, it is necessary to seek medical help in a timely manner. Treatment of pneumonia in pregnant women in most cases is carried out in a hospital setting.
Only a doctor can prescribe the most effective and safest therapy for mother and baby. Against the background of the main treatment, some methods of traditional medicine are welcome.
Drug therapy
The range of drugs depends on the expected type of pathogen. But in most cases, the main treatment is antibacterial (in the case of influenza, etc., antiviral) therapy . For pregnant women, preference is given to those drugs that have minimal negative effects on the baby, and pathogens must be sensitive to these drugs. The following groups of drugs are most often used in medical practice and are considered relatively safe:
- penicillins (amoxicillin and others);
- cephalosporins (cefotaxime, cefepime, ceftriaxone, etc.);
- nitroimidazoles (eg metronidazole);
- macrolides (azithromycin and others);
- carbapenems;
- acyclovir, oseltamivir, remantadine, etc.
Also, a large number of additional drugs are always prescribed. The main groups are as follows:
- drugs to reduce the intensity of cough - libexin, etc.;
- means to improve sputum discharge - mucolytics (bromhexine, ambroxol, ACC);
- drugs that dilate the bronchi, including through nebulizers (salbutamol, Berotec);
- medications that strengthen the immune system (groprinosin, immunoglobulins);
- if necessary, hormonal agents. Typically this group is used for moderate to severe pneumonia.
In particularly difficult situations, artificial ventilation is used.
Traditional methods
Traditional medicine drugs and methods are effective against the background of basic treatment. These can be medicines based on plants (sage infusion), bee products (honey, propolis), etc.
Recipe 1. You need to take horseradish root and chop it as much as possible. Next, it should be placed in some container and inhaled for 20 - 30 minutes. You can also pour horseradish with alcohol and let it brew for several hours, after which you can also do independent inhalations.
Recipe 2. Take elecampane and chop it. Then pour 500 ml of hot water and keep in a water bath for about 1 - 2 hours. You need to take 2 - 3 tbsp. l. 3 - 4 times a day.
Recipe 3. Boiled unpeeled potatoes should be cut into halves and made into warm compresses on the chest.
Recipe 4. It is useful to consume large amounts of garlic, as it strengthens the immune system and has an antibacterial effect.
Childbirth with pneumonia
The presence of an acute inflammatory process in the lungs is dangerous at the time of childbirth.
It can provoke serious pathological changes in the functioning of the heart and lungs. The woman may die. Therefore, doctors try to minimize the acute manifestations of the disease before the onset of the delivery process.
If pneumonia is present in the delivery room, in addition to obstetricians, a pulmonologist must be present.
In most cases, childbirth occurs naturally. If a complication occurs during the process, an emergency caesarean section may be performed.
Pneumonia is a common and dangerous disease in pregnant women. Incorrect treatment can have serious consequences for the woman and fetus.
With proper therapy, this disease is well treated and has virtually no effect on the future health of patients.
Childbirth and the period after recovery
It is important during childbirth, which should be natural, to monitor the condition of both mother and baby. At this moment, the presence of a pulmonologist and an obstetrician-gynecologist directly is mandatory. Pneumonia in pregnant women, especially during childbirth, is dangerous, but if you help mommy with breathing and anesthetize the process itself, everything will go quickly and smoothly.
If acute inflammation continues after the birth of the baby, then breastfeeding, unfortunately, is prohibited, as there is a possibility of infection of the child. After the normal state is restored, milk can be given to the newborn, even if the course of treatment has not yet been completed.
