How to treat allergic rhinitis during pregnancy

Causes of different types of rhinitis and the dangers of this condition for pregnant women

Symptoms of rhinitis during pregnancy, as a rule, appear sharply against the background of the general normal state of the body: nasal congestion, sneezing, after which the eyes begin to water, itching in the nasal cavity, swelling of the mucous membranes and transparent discharge of varying consistency appears.

But, having felt the symptoms of a runny nose, you should understand the reasons for this phenomenon, and for this it is best to consult a doctor.

It is important to correctly classify the symptom, since only in this case will the doctor be able to prescribe adequate treatment that will not harm the baby.

Rhinitis during pregnancy is usually divided into three types:

infectious; allergic; hormone.

Infectious rhinitis

The main cause of this type of rhinitis is a cold or ARVI, as well as other respiratory diseases, which occur much more often during pregnancy than in the normal state of a woman’s body.

This is due to strong changes in the functioning of the immune system, a general level of decreased protection, which is necessary to maintain pregnancy, but makes the body more vulnerable to various viruses and infections.

In case of inadequate treatment or its absence, an infectious runny nose can develop into a more serious disease, which not only requires complex therapy, but can also become a threat to the child.

Possible complications may include:

Sinusitis is inflammation of the maxillary sinuses with severe swelling of the nasal mucosa. Read more: sinusitis during pregnancy→ Frontal sinusitis, including in acute form, which is an inflammation of the frontal paranasal sinus. Sinusitis of various types , including in acute or chronic form, which is a severe inflammation of one or several sinuses of the nasal cavity. The appearance of nasal polyps , formed on the inflamed and swollen mucous membranes of the nasal cavity.

Allergic runny nose

Allergies during pregnancy are a common cause of rhinitis. In most cases, such a reaction occurs in the body when irritating substances that cause respiratory allergies enter the respiratory tract.

Such substances include animal hair and fluff, bird feathers and fluff, plant pollen, house dust, pet saliva, some types of products, perfumes, medicines, household chemicals and much more.

According to statistics, rhinitis of this type is observed in every third pregnant woman and most often in the early stages, when the female body is just getting used to the changes taking place in it.

Allergic rhinitis during the period of gestation is dangerous because allergens that enter the mother’s body and cause an inadequate reaction in it can also reach the developing fetus, as well as in the case of the mother consuming allergenic foods.

Substances entering the baby through the placenta cause a reaction in his own immune system, which does not yet have enough enzymes to neutralize harmful elements.

For this reason, the baby’s immune system begins to actively produce antibodies, remembering the foreign substance. Later, after birth, when this substance is inhaled, the child’s immune system will react by developing an allergy. Read more about allergies during pregnancy→

Hormonal rhinitis

The appearance of such a runny nose is always associated with hormonal changes and instability of its background. It appears in pregnant women, in people suffering from thyroid diseases, as well as in adolescents during puberty.

Before treating such rhinitis in pregnant women, it is important to understand that its cause is a sharp increase in the level of certain hormones.

It is the change in hormonal levels in women during pregnancy that is the most common cause of a runny nose, which is why this condition is even called “rhinitis during pregnancy.”

But you should not think that this mechanism is natural for the body, and therefore not amenable to any treatment, but goes away on its own after the baby is born.

Causes

It has long been known that during a certain period of pregnancy women experience a constant runny nose for no apparent reason. However, for a long time it was not considered as a separate pathology. Recently, the prevailing view in medical science is that there is such an ailment as rhinitis during pregnancy. It is characterized by nasal congestion from about the 34th week of pregnancy or earlier, sometimes with discharge. However, there are no other signs of respiratory tract infection, and there is no obvious allergic cause. Pathologically, the signs completely disappear within two weeks after birth.

Presumably, vasomotor rhinitis during pregnancy may be associated with hormonal changes. And although the characteristics of the hormonal levels in the body of a pregnant woman have been well studied, the true cause of this disorder has not yet been established. Several risk factors have been identified, including smoking and, according to some studies, high age.

Treatment of runny nose during pregnancy

In most cases of hormonal rhinitis during pregnancy, doctors prescribe drug treatment, using drugs that are safe for the expectant mother and baby.

The drugs used should not have a toxic effect, should have excellent tolerability even with long-term use, and should also be used in strictly prescribed therapeutic doses. Under no circumstances should you attempt treatment on your own.

Before treating allergic rhinitis in pregnant women, it is necessary to eliminate the source of the allergy, for which it is necessary:

remove all down and feather pillows, replacing them with padding polyester, which do not cause allergies, but it is important not to forget to wash them regularly in soapy water, the temperature of which should not be lower than 60°; replace fabric curtains and curtains with blinds, which will reduce the amount of dust in the room; reduce to a minimum the number of possible sources of house dust, that is, remove things that are not subject to regular wet cleaning, washing or laundering; regularly ventilate the living space, especially in the evening before going to bed; it is advisable to remove all plants from the apartment; reduce contact with pets, since, most often, allergies occur to the fur of dogs, cats, rodents, and to the down and feathers of birds; exclude allergenic foods from the diet, especially those that caused an inadequate reaction in the body even before pregnancy.

Drug treatment of a runny nose, the cause of which is a respiratory allergy, will be advisable only after eliminating the allergen and possible contact with it in the future.

Treatment of an infectious type runny nose should always be carried out under the supervision of a doctor, and such a problem is much easier to prevent than to undergo therapy. To prevent infection, you should limit any contact with sick people as much as possible.

You should not visit public places unless absolutely necessary, as in this case the likelihood of infection is very high. When leaving home (especially during seasonal exacerbations and epidemic threats), you need to lubricate your nasal sinuses with a special ointment, for example, viferon or oxolinic.

Such products help create an additional protective barrier in the nasal cavity, where germs and other pathogens enter when inhaled.

Allergic rhinitis during pregnancy

Allergic rhinitis is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa based on an allergic reaction. This type of disease is manifested by sneezing, rhinorrhea, difficulty breathing, itching in the nose. Allergic rhinitis is one of the big three allergic diseases. In addition to allergic rhinitis, it includes allergic asthma and allergic dermatitis.

Allergens that can trigger the appearance of an allergic type of this disease:

mites found in house dust;
house dust;
plant pollen;
insect allergens;
certain foods
yeast allergens;
some medications.

Also, risk factors for the appearance of an allergic type of this disease include genetic predisposition.

Allergic rhinitis is a disease based on a specific allergic inflammation that occurs when an allergen enters the nasal mucosa. The prevalence of the disease in the population is consistently high: among women of childbearing age, it affects 20–30%, and 10–30% of them report an increase in symptoms during pregnancy.

During pregnancy, allergic rhinitis is a serious problem, since it can be difficult to choose a safe treatment method that would not harm the fetus and the body of expectant mothers. Therefore, before prescribing therapy, it is very important to assess the causes and consequences of this pathology and all possible risks.

A severe runny nose and stuffy nose in the absence of visible symptoms of ARVI is an allergy

The most common symptoms of allergic rhinitis are:

copious liquid discharge from the nostrils;
phenomena of nasal congestion;
paroxysmal sneezing;
itching in the eyes and watery eyes;
decreased sensitivity to odors;
itching in the nasal passages;
hoarseness of voice.

In some cases, women complain of systemic manifestations of the disease, such as:

malaise and weakness;
headache;
sleep disturbance: drowsiness during the day and insomnia at night due to impaired nasal breathing;
itching of the skin;
increased irritability;
impaired concentration.

Most often, allergic rhinitis in pregnant women develops after contact with the following allergens:

plant pollen during the flowering season;
wool, feathers, feces of domestic animals;
house dust, or rather the mites that live in it;
molds and other fungi during the period of sporulation;
household chemicals and cosmetics;
houseplants;
essential oils.

In addition, smoking and chronic sinusitis are predisposing factors for the occurrence of allergic rhinitis.

During pregnancy, an allergic reaction may occur, which will disappear after childbirth.

Since the production of hormones such as progesterone, β-estradiol, and growth hormone during pregnancy increases the body’s sensitivity to allergens, in women who previously suffered from allergies, the intensity of manifestations can increase significantly during gestation. It even happens that pregnant women develop hypersensitivity to substances that previously did not cause allergies. After delivery and stabilization of hormonal levels, allergy symptoms usually disappear.

Given this possibility, it is very important to distinguish allergic rhinitis from vasomotor rhinitis of pregnancy - nasal congestion that occurs during pregnancy, is not accompanied by signs of an infectious or allergic disease and completely disappears within 2 weeks after birth. Vasomotor rhinitis in pregnant women is a common pathology, affecting every fifth woman, and can develop at almost any stage of gestation.

Skin testing should be avoided due to the risk of anaphylactic shock, although the likelihood of this is extremely low.

Diagnostics is based on collecting complaints and anamnesis of the disease, determining the content of general and specific immunoglobulins E in the blood serum, and cytological examination of smears from the nasal mucosa.

The disease poses a significant danger to the fetus in severe cases with pronounced swelling of the nasal mucosa and difficulty in nasal breathing.

When you inhale through the mouth, the volume of air in the lungs becomes smaller, which means less oxygen enters the bloodstream and is delivered to the fetus. All this can lead to hypoxia and intrauterine growth retardation.

In severe cases, possible consequences may include mental and physical disability of the child.

Most drugs are contraindicated during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, when the fetus is most actively developing internal organs.

Therefore, all medications during gestation should be prescribed only by a doctor, taking into account an assessment of the ratio of potential risks and health benefits.

Try to avoid allergens

It is important to remember that any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. Allergic rhinitis is no exception to this rule. The main preventive measures are to limit contact with the allergen and remove it from the body as quickly as possible. In this case, it is possible to avoid the need to use drugs.

If pollen from flowering plants is identified as an allergen, then limiting contact with it will be quite difficult. Here are some tips:

postpone country trips and walks in parks during the flowering period;
ventilate the room only early in the morning or late in the evening, in calm weather;
do not open car windows;
stretch several layers of gauze moistened with water over the mosquito net - it will act as a filter;
install a split system at home with the ability to purify the air.

It is somewhat easier to limit the effect of household allergens:

If you are allergic to house dust, you need to remove carpets, heavy curtains, and children's soft toys from the room, and use protective bedding and bedding with hypoallergenic synthetic filling.
If an allergy to pets is detected, and it is impossible to get rid of the pet, then it is necessary to have as little contact with it as possible, not allow it into the bedroom, or generally keep it outside the living quarters. In cases where the allergy arose only during pregnancy, it is advisable to give the pet to relatives or friends for 9 months. Then, perhaps, there will be no more allergic phenomena.
In case of allergic rhinitis to indoor plants, you need to remove them from the apartment.
In the event that a reaction occurs to household chemicals, cosmetics, or essential oils, you need to “figure out the culprit” as quickly as possible and stop using it.

Frequent wet cleaning instead of dry cleaning, regular washing of bed linen, clothes and soft toys also helps to cope with the disease.

It is necessary to use washing vacuum cleaners with insulating filters.

Pets with allergies should be bathed at least once a week, just do it without the participation of a pregnant woman! It is especially important to maintain cleanliness during an exacerbation of allergic rhinitis.

Nasal rinsing

To mechanically remove the allergen from the body, it is necessary to regularly rinse the nasal passages with isotonic saline solutions created on the basis of sea or ocean water (Aquamaris, Quix, Aqualor); you can also use special nasal rinsing devices such as “Dolphin”.

Aquamaris Aqualor

Many people wonder what can be used to treat allergic rhinitis during pregnancy, if almost all drugs during this period are contraindicated.

Recently, barrier therapy methods have attracted great interest. For example, a natural barrier to allergens on the nasal mucosa is created by using Nazaval spray, which is cellulose powder.

Cellulose is an inert substance that binds to the mucus of the nasal cavity and forms a gel-like film - an obstacle to the penetration of allergens.

An important advantage of nazaval is its safety: it does not contain potent pharmacological substances, does not have a systemic effect, and is therefore suitable for long-term use. Barrier methods can also include washing the nose with the previously mentioned solutions: Salin, Dolphin, Aquamaris.

Antihistamines should not be used during gestation, especially in the first trimester. Second generation antihistamines (Loratadine, Cetirizine) are recommended during pregnancy for the shortest possible period and only in cases of extreme need, when the expected benefit for the pregnant woman is higher than the possible risk to the fetus. Only a doctor can prescribe drugs from this group!

The optimal drugs for treatment during pregnancy are local glucocorticoids, since allergic rhinitis in pregnant women is more often resistant to conventional therapy. In this case, the doctor may prescribe medications such as Nasonex and Aldecin.

Nasonex Aldecin

People's Councils

Among traditional medicine recipes, there are many options for treating a runny nose caused by an allergic reaction. It is worth considering, however, that some herbal remedies, firstly, may be contraindicated during pregnancy and, secondly, may themselves be a source of allergies. Even relatively safe herbal medicine must be carried out under the supervision of a physician.

Among the folk remedies for the runny nose, the most common are:

instillation of herbal-based drops into the nose: mint, eucalyptus leaves, sage, thyme;
instillation of beet or carrot juice into the nasal passages, which are previously diluted in half with water; You need to be extremely careful when using onion and garlic juice during pregnancy;
inhalation over potatoes or honey solution.

Medicines and physiotherapeutic procedures allowed during pregnancy

When choosing a treatment method for any type of runny nose, you should remember that nasal drops that have a vasoconstrictor effect cannot be used while the baby is waiting.

The use of drugs such as Nazivin, Naphthyzin, Dlynos, Galazolin, Sanorin and other vasoconstrictors is not recommended.

The use of such drops to eliminate a runny nose during pregnancy can provoke disturbances in the placental blood flow, which will certainly affect the condition and development of the baby, since the fetus will not receive the substances it needs in full.

In the later stages, this situation can lead to premature birth, since the baby, when the blood vessels of the placenta narrow and the blood flow is disrupted, begins to get very anxious and push, which can provoke dilatation of the cervix and the onset of labor.

Vasoconstrictor drops in some cases (for severe forms of the runny nose) can be prescribed in single minimal doses before bedtime to ease a woman’s breathing at night and give her the opportunity to fully rest. You cannot use such drops on your own.

Perhaps the only drops that are not contraindicated during pregnancy are Pinosol. They contain natural vegetable oils, so they are safe for a developing baby.

But their use is strictly individual, since during the period of gestation a woman’s body is more susceptible to various effects and the components of the drug can cause an allergic reaction.

The safest and most effective in treating a runny nose during pregnancy are saline solutions used to rinse the nasal passages.

You can prepare such solutions yourself by purchasing special sea salt, or you can purchase ready-made preparations in pharmacy chains. The saline solution significantly reduces swelling of the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity, eliminates inflammation, thereby making breathing easier.

To prepare the solution, take one teaspoon of salt (sea) per half liter of clean water.

Among the pharmaceutical preparations for rinsing the nose are:

Aqualor; Aquamaris; Merimer; Salin; Humer; Dolphin.

Inhalation using slightly alkaline mineral water is considered an effective and harmless way to get rid of a runny nose during pregnancy. The water should be without gas, so the bottle must be opened in advance or pour a little water into a glass so that the gas comes out.

You can replace natural mineral water with a soda solution, using 2 or 3 tablespoons of dry matter per liter of boiling water.

If there are no allergic reactions, you can carry out inhalations with the addition of essential oils, for example, lime, coniferous trees, myrtle, calamus, lavender, eucalyptus, sage, lemon, rose, mint. But this method should be used with caution, as an allergic reaction may occur. Read more: inhalations during pregnancy→

It is important to carry out inhalations correctly, for which several rules should be followed:

Do not carry out the procedure immediately after eating, or on an empty stomach. After eating food, approximately 1–1.5 hours should pass. When you have a runny nose, you should inhale medicinal vapors through your nose so that the effect is exerted specifically on the inflamed mucous membranes of the nasal cavity. To carry out the procedure, it is best to use special devices, for example, nebulizers. If there is no such device, you can pour the boiling solution into a teapot and, covered with a towel, breathe in the steam escaping through its spout. You can breathe over a regular saucepan, but there is a risk of burns. The duration of the procedure during pregnancy should not exceed 10 minutes when using mineral water or soda solution. When inhaling essential oils, the duration of inhalation should be reduced to 5–6 minutes. After inhalation, the woman should rest for at least two hours without going outside, and it is advisable not to talk or eat.

Traditional methods of treating runny nose during pregnancy

Doctors of traditional medicine advise pregnant women to do a special acupressure massage that eases the condition and breathing when various types of runny nose occur. You need to massage with light movements not only the wings of the nose, but also the frontal area, as well as the upper part of the cheeks under the eyes.

There are also many folk recipes for inhalations, in particular, using decoctions of medicinal herbs such as chamomile, calendula, celandine, lemon balm, coltsfoot.

But they can only be used with caution and provided there is no individual intolerance. The same rule applies to rinsing the nasal passages with herbal decoctions.

The most harmless inhalations of traditional medicine include inhaling the vapors of boiled potatoes or their peels. You can also inhale the vapors of freshly cut onions or garlic, as well as lemon.

Traditional medicine also advises the use of honey water in the treatment of runny nose in pregnant women, using it not only for rinsing the nasal cavity, but also for inhalation, as well as for drinking warm.

But it should also be taken into account that honey can not only cause an allergic reaction in the expectant mother, but also provoke the appearance of allergies in the unborn baby after his birth.

Why do pregnant women have a runny nose?

The main causes of a runny nose that women experience during pregnancy include hypothermia, ARVI and other diseases resulting from decreased immunity. In addition, if there is a tendency, expectant mothers may develop allergic reactions to certain substances, food, dust, etc.

Finally, rhinitis can be the result of hormonal changes that occur in the body during pregnancy. In itself, such a condition does not require serious treatment, but nevertheless causes severe discomfort to the expectant mother, and in addition, poses a potential danger to the health of the woman and child. Firstly, difficulty breathing in a pregnant woman can sometimes cause fetal hypoxia. Secondly, if a person breathes through the mouth and not through the nose, the air is not warmed and not disinfected (these functions are performed by the nasal passages), which means that harmful microorganisms can enter the body along with it.

The main causes of a runny nose in pregnant women: hypothermia, ARVI and other diseases

Prevention

Among the preventive measures against the occurrence of rhinitis during pregnancy, the main one remains the exclusion of contacts with people suffering from infectious diseases.

An excellent means of prevention is to carry out periodic inhalations, for example, with lemon or eucalyptus oil, which allows you to kill bacteria that have entered the nasal cavity after visiting public places, preventing them from multiplying and causing illness.

If you have a respiratory allergy, the main preventative measure is to eliminate any contact with allergens.

It is important to remember that while you are expecting a baby, due to a weakened immune system, allergies can be caused by any substance, even those to which there was no negative reaction before pregnancy.

Unfortunately, there are no preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of hormonal runny nose, since hormonal imbalance is natural for the female body during pregnancy. In this case, you can use only light and safe means to ease the condition and breathing.

Of course, in 9 months it is almost impossible not to contract a respiratory infection or a common cold even once, even if all preventive measures and precautions are followed.

But it is important to remember that you cannot self-medicate for any disease at this time, because we are talking not only about the condition of the woman herself, but also about the health of the unborn baby. Therefore, it is best to entrust the prescription of drugs and procedures to eliminate rhinitis during this period to a qualified doctor.

Author: Irina Vaganova, doctor specially for Mama66.ru

Useful video on how to properly rinse your nose at home

We advise you to read: acute respiratory infections during pregnancy, what is the danger for a woman and child

In a strict medical sense, rhinitis in pregnant women is chronic swelling of the nasal mucosa in a woman, leading to difficulty in nasal breathing and caused by hormonal changes in the body.

Actually, this disease differs from other types of rhinitis in its causes. For example, typical acute rhinitis (cold) is caused by a weakened immune system and increased activity of bacteria that are normally not pathogenic; viral rhinitis is caused by a viral infection; allergic rhinitis is caused by substances to which the patient is hypersensitive. That is, all typical rhinitis causes are external - hypothermia, infection, allergens. Rhinitis in pregnant women is caused by internal causes and does not depend on what kind of air the patient breathes and whether she becomes infected with something from others.

Obviously, rhinitis in pregnant women can also be caused by ordinary reasons - infection, allergies, hypothermia, dirty air. That is, if a pregnant woman becomes infected with ARVI, she will develop a runny nose, just like any other person. However, such a runny nose is not called pregnancy rhinitis in medical science, since it is simply a viral rhinitis that can equally occur in men and children. And rhinitis in pregnant women is a disease that can only develop in women during gestation and is caused by reasons that arise only when the woman’s body undergoes restructuring during fetal development.

Simply put, not every rhinitis during pregnancy is precisely rhinitis during pregnancy in the strict scientific understanding of the term. Moreover, the symptoms of rhinitis in pregnant women differ from the signs of typical runny nose.

Symptoms of the disease

Allergic rhinitis in pregnant women is a response of the nasal cavity to contact of the mucous membrane of the nasal sinuses with certain substances or irritants that are allergens.
That is, the girl has increased susceptibility to such irritants. Quite often, pregnant women have an allergic reaction even to those substances that do not cause allergies before and after the gestation period.

The most common rhinitis is a runny nose that appears against the background of a bacterial or viral infection. During pregnancy, immunity decreases. Therefore, the expectant mother is most susceptible to ARVI. Symptoms of this disease: cough, sore throat, high fever and green-yellow discharge from the nostrils.

If a runny nose is a manifestation of a cold, the doctor prescribes an antiviral drug that is not contraindicated for expectant mothers, as well as rinsing the nasal cavity with a saline solution. Treatment with folk remedies is also possible - beet or carrot juice, warming with warm salt or egg.

Vasomotor rhinitis usually does not occur in the first months of pregnancy, but more often starting from the second trimester, and sometimes does not go away until childbirth. The woman complains that the mucous membranes are drying out, the bridge of her nose and her head hurt.

Rhinitis, like acute respiratory infections, is accompanied by:

severe sneezing;
cough and congestion;
difficulty breathing;
formation of crusts and cracks;
runny nasal discharge;
unbearable itching.

The condition of the expectant mother especially worsens at night, which is why she cannot get enough sleep and gets irritated over trifles.

Read about the benefits of treating a runny nose with homeopathy here.

The nasal mucosa is the body’s main protective barrier against infection. Irritation can be caused not only by bacteria or viruses, but also by a number of allergens, which requires a completely different treatment strategy.

The difficulty of determining the cause of a runny nose during pregnancy also lies in the fact that during this period hormonal changes occur in the body of the expectant mother. The consequence is an increase in the level of sex hormones, causing an increase in the amount of blood. As a result, peripheral edema develops in the nasal mucosa and vasomotor rhinitis occurs.

With the allergic nature of the runny nose, completely different mechanisms are put into action, primarily associated with a decrease in the general level of immunity during pregnancy. After all, the fetus is perceived by a woman’s body as something foreign, and in order to be able to bear it, nature has provided the body with the ability to reduce its defenses during this time. However, the result of this maneuver was the pregnant woman’s increased vulnerability to infections and allergens.

Symptoms of rhinitis in pregnant women

In its symptoms, rhinitis in pregnant women is similar to some forms of typical chronic rhinitis. Its most characteristic feature is nasal congestion, usually with rhinorrhea (an abundance of snot), with the woman’s general general health being normal. In case of illness, nasal breathing is simply impaired:

There is a feeling of excess mucus in the nose; In some cases, a large amount of snot actually appears, sometimes, on the contrary, there is too little of it, not enough to fully moisturize the mucous membrane; The nasal passages may dry out (especially with active nose blowing), crusts and cracks appear in them, and pain in the nose appears; It becomes difficult for a pregnant woman to breathe; her nose gets especially stuffy during sleep due to the horizontal position of the body and the rush of blood to the head.

Normally, with rhinitis in pregnant women, the head may hurt only after physical exertion.

Due to impaired nasal breathing, a pregnant woman may develop shortness of breath, and sometimes she may experience headache attacks, but they usually go away after rest and being in the fresh air.

Review
“Whoever had rhinitis during pregnancy, tell me which doctor to go to with it - an ENT specialist, a gynecologist, an infectious disease specialist? The symptoms do not seem to be very severe - the nose is stuffy, there is snot, but there is no runny nose, I feel fine as long as I am lying down and not out of breath. Is it even worth going to the doctor in this case, or will it go away on its own?”
Alla, from correspondence on the forum

Rhinitis in pregnant women almost never spreads to the pharynx or sinuses. For this reason, sinusitis, eustacheitis or nasopharyngitis (posterior rhinitis) in pregnant women are almost always the consequences of viral or bacterial infections, but not hormonal rhinitis of pregnant women.

Symptoms

The main symptom characterizing rhinitis in pregnant women and other patients is nasal congestion. If the nose does not perform its basic functions and a person constantly breathes through the mouth, then the likelihood of infections entering the body increases significantly and local immunity decreases.

Symptoms of rhinitis also include:

runny nose, a large amount of liquid, often colorless secretion;
sneezing, coughing;
tickling sensation in the nose;
general weakness, fatigue, headache;
snoring and holding your breath during night sleep;
wheezing, especially when walking quickly or climbing stairs.

How to distinguish rhinitis in pregnant women from other forms of the disease

The main distinguishing feature of rhinitis in pregnant women is the normal general condition of the woman. With this disease, the body temperature does not rise, malaise does not appear, the woman does not feel overwhelmed, she does not have a headache, her appetite is not impaired and symptoms of intoxication of the body do not appear.

This is what makes it possible during the initial diagnosis to distinguish rhinitis in pregnant women from ordinary viral rhinitis - with ARVI, the norm is a deterioration in well-being, intoxication of the body and an increase in temperature.

Review
“I just got back from the doctor. The diagnosis is vasomotor rhinitis of pregnancy. Would you like to understand what this means, is there such a disease at all? I know that rhinitis is like ARVI, when you have a runny nose and a stuffy nose. But here I don’t seem to have a fever, I feel fine, nothing hurts, only my nose can’t breathe. That's all the symptoms. The doctor prescribed Nasonex before bed and Aqua Maris to rinse the nose 3 times a day. Well, if Aqua Maris is understandable, water with salt, then Nasonex scares me. Still, a hormonal spray..."
Irina, from messages on the forum

The disease differs from allergic rhinitis in the absence of pain in the eyes and rashes on the face and body. Also, with rhinitis in pregnant women, severe sneezing, typical of an allergic rhinitis, rarely develops.

High temperature is a sign that a pregnant woman has infectious rhinitis

Rhinitis in pregnant women can be distinguished from a cold (nonspecific acute rhinitis) by the woman’s normal state of health, and 5-6 days after the onset of the disease - by the color and consistency of nasal mucus. In case of acute rhinitis, at this time it becomes thick, green or green-yellow; in case of rhinitis during pregnancy, it remains transparent and quite liquid throughout the entire illness.

It is much more difficult to distinguish rhinitis in pregnant women from various forms of chronic rhinitis - atrophic, hypertrophic, hyperplastic. The main symptom of rhinitis in pregnant women here is its onset during pregnancy, since other forms of the disease usually plague a woman even before pregnancy. That is, if before the start of pregnancy the patient did not have a chronic runny nose, but as the fetus developed it appeared, we are most likely talking about rhinitis in pregnant women.

At the same time, if before pregnancy the patient suffered from a chronic runny nose, during gestation rhinitis in pregnant women may be superimposed on it.

Only a specialist can clearly differentiate rhinitis in pregnant women from other forms of chronic runny nose after examining the mucous membranes. Based on the nature of the inflammation and the appearance of the tissues, he will be able to exclude pathologies associated with atrophy, proliferation or degeneration of the nasal mucosa and make a reliable diagnosis. At home, it is almost impossible to distinguish rhinitis in pregnant women from other forms of chronic rhinitis based only on general symptoms.

Fundamentally, rhinitis in pregnant women differs from other forms of chronic rhinitis in that it does not lead to irreversible changes in the nasal mucosa. After its completion, normal functioning of the nose is restored and no residual signs of the disease remain on the mucous membrane. On the contrary, with the same atrophic rhinitis, the mucous membrane can completely degenerate; with hypertrophic rhinitis, it does not return to its normal state and nasal breathing is not restored.

Type of nasal turbinates with vasomotor rhinitis

Since treatment of different forms of rhinitis requires the use of different medications, many of which are contraindicated during pregnancy, the first thing to do if you suspect rhinitis in pregnant women is to go to the doctor. There is nothing to worry about: nasal examination and diagnosis usually do not require tests and are carried out quickly. But after this, the doctor will be able to tell exactly what the woman should do next.

Causes of the disease and frequency of its occurrence

The cause of rhinitis in pregnant women is a change in the hormonal balance in a woman’s body. Certain female sex hormones affect the degree of blood supply to the vessels of the nasal mucosa, stimulating blood flow into them. As a result, the same phenomenon occurs that is observed during inflammation: the mucous membrane swells and begins to produce more mucus, and the lumen of the nasal passages decreases.

The deeper reasons for the influence of hormones on the condition of the nasal mucosa have not been clearly determined. Scientists have several basic assumptions:

Estrogens suppress the activity of acetylcholinesterase, which leads to an increase in the level of acetylcholine in the body and swelling of the mucous membranes; Placental growth hormone directly affects blood supply to peripheral blood vessels to increase blood flow in the placenta. Swelling of the nasal mucosa is a peculiar side effect of it; Progesterone reduces the tone of the smooth muscle cells of the vessels of the nasal mucosa, which leads to dilation of the vessels themselves and swelling of the mucous membrane.

Today it is not known to what extent each of these factors influences the manifestation of rhinitis. Perhaps they all act simultaneously and equally.

Progesterone is a hormone that reduces vascular cell tone

In fact, rhinitis in pregnant women is a typical vasomotor rhinitis, since vasomotor is a syndrome in which the normal blood supply to the vessels is disrupted due to the activity of hormones. Only if, in typical vasomotor rhinitis, changes in the hormonal balance are caused by disturbances in the body's internal secretion system (most often - diseases of the thyroid gland), then vasomotor rhinitis during pregnancy is a consequence of changes in the body caused by pregnancy itself.

It is important to understand that pregnancy is not necessarily accompanied by rhinitis. According to statistics, in different countries it affects from 5 to 32% of pregnant women, that is, in most women it does not develop at all. Moreover, the likelihood of its development increases significantly if a pregnant woman:

Smokes - among women who smoke, 69% suffer from rhinitis during pregnancy; Suffers from allergic rhinitis, even seasonal; Suffering from sinusitis; Lives in an area with heavily polluted air.

Neither body weight, nor the woman's age, nor the weight of the fetus affect the incidence of rhinitis in pregnant women.

At what stage does rhinitis in pregnant women occur and how long does it last?

There is no strict relationship between the duration of pregnancy and the incidence of rhinitis. According to statistics in Russia, rhinitis develops:

After 12 weeks - in 27% of pregnant women; After 20 weeks of pregnancy - in 37% of women; After 30 weeks - in 40% of women; After 36 weeks - in 42% of pregnant women.

Usually the disease lasts 3-4 weeks, sometimes up to two months and ends on its own. In some cases, if rhinitis develops in the later stages, it lasts until the birth itself and sometimes for 2 weeks after the birth of the child. If the symptoms of rhinitis do not go away within this time frame, we are most likely not talking about vasomotor rhinitis of pregnant women, but about a different type of disease.

If a runny nose during pregnancy gets worse outside, it is most likely due to an allergy.

If rhinitis begins before the 5th-6th month of pregnancy inclusive, you can expect that it will stop manifesting itself before the pregnant woman needs to prepare for a trip to the maternity hospital. If the disease began at a later date, it is worth getting a doctor’s certificate in advance stating that it is not infectious rhinitis, so as not to end up in the infectious diseases department in the maternity hospital.

Rhinitis in pregnant women very rarely begins in the first weeks of pregnancy, since hormonal changes during this period are not yet so pronounced. Therefore, by the way, this disease should not be considered as a sign of pregnancy: usually by the time rhinitis begins, a woman understands from many other signs that she is pregnant.

There are no known situations where rhinitis in pregnant women would develop and end several times during one pregnancy. In such a situation we are usually talking about allergic rhinitis.

Runny nose and pregnancy

Who can be surprised with a runny nose in the fall? They treat this disease, although with hostility, but without much alarm - you will suffer for a week, and it will pass. What if you can’t get by for a week? This is exactly the fate that awaits many pregnant women. According to statistics, rhinitis in pregnant women occurs in 30% of them. And even if we do not touch upon the usual worries of expectant mothers that begin with any disease - is the disease dangerous for the child, and is it dangerous to treat, etc., etc., such a runny nose has its own unpleasant features. The main thing is its impressive duration: it can sometimes last until the very birth! And it usually begins at the end of the first trimester.

How dangerous is this disease?

Rhinitis in pregnant women is theoretically dangerous because with it the pregnant woman’s body often finds itself in hypoxic conditions. If a woman is not trained and her lungs are not voluminous enough, even minor physical exertion with a stuffy nose will lead to shortness of breath and dizziness. Of course, a lack of oxygen can affect the development of the fetus, and the harder it is for a woman to breathe, the more pronounced this effect.

However, in a normal healthy woman, rhinitis during pregnancy does not affect the health of the fetus. This disease poses a real danger to women suffering from bronchial asthma - in their case, breathing problems can lead to disturbances in the development of the fetus, and in rare situations - to the threat of miscarriage.

Rhinitis in pregnant women also contributes to the development of arterial hypertension, insomnia, and chronic fatigue, but only if pregnant women have other factors predisposing to the development of these diseases.

Breathing problems often lead to the fact that a pregnant woman cannot sleep normally

Rhinitis in early pregnancy is almost completely safe. In the later stages, it is considered a big nuisance to place a pregnant woman in the infectious diseases department of a maternity hospital, when doctors regard rhinitis itself as a viral disease. To prevent this from happening, you should obtain in advance from your attending physician a certificate confirming the diagnosis of the disease and the absence of infection in the pregnant woman.

Treatment of rhinitis in pregnant women

The main problem in the treatment of rhinitis in pregnant women is due to the fact that its cause, in principle, cannot be eliminated by any medications. Until the nasal mucosa adapts to the new hormonal balance, a woman will have a runny nose constantly, and various symptomatic remedies - drops, sprays, rinses - will have only a temporary effect. Therefore, rhinitis in pregnant women is a disease that cannot be gotten rid of and that you just need to wait it out, if necessary, easing your condition in the most difficult periods with the help of medications.

In addition, most of the symptomatic treatment of rhinitis during pregnancy is prohibited due to possible undesirable effects on the fetus. The most popular vasoconstrictor drops and sprays are also prohibited.

As a result, treatment of rhinitis during pregnancy is carried out according to the following scheme:

The necessary measures are taken to normalize the condition of the nasal mucosa - rinsing with saline solution is carried out, the pregnant woman spends as much time as possible in the fresh air, in the room where she rests and sleeps, optimal microclimate conditions are maintained - air temperature within 19-21 ° C, humidity - 55-75%. With such measures, even with rhinitis, the nose will breathe, albeit not as well as before the illness; The head of the bed is raised by 10-15°, which will reduce nasal swelling at night; During periods when the nose does not breathe at all, safe drops and sprays are used to relieve swelling. If the nose is completely blocked at night, the products are instilled into the nose before bed.

That is, the tactic here is to reduce the severity of the symptoms of the disease as much as possible, and only in critical periods simply stop them with medications.

Galazolin, like other decongestants, is contraindicated during pregnancy!

Rhinitis in pregnant women should be treated with drops based on glucocorticoid steroids. These drugs are as safe as possible; when used in permitted doses, they practically do not penetrate the bloodstream and do not affect the fetus. These include:

Nasonex - spray based on mometasone; Fluticasone is a spray with the active ingredient of the same name; Alcedin is a drug based on beclomethasone; Budoster - approved for use during pregnancy under medical supervision; Tafen Nasal - according to the instructions, it is prohibited during pregnancy, but in principle it is an analogue of Budoster, and therefore is often prescribed during gestation.

These sprays and drops for rhinitis in pregnant women allow you to completely remove swelling of the nasal mucosa within a few hours. Their effect after instillation lasts from 6 to 24 hours, depending on the severity of the disease and the reaction of the mucous membrane itself to them, and therefore it is enough to drip them only before going to bed at night.

Nasonex is one of the sprays that have no side effects on the fetus when used in pregnant women

Vasoconstrictor or antihistamine drops should not be used for rhinitis in pregnant women. In rare cases, a doctor may prescribe phenylpropanolamine (Trimex) or phenylephrine (Nazol Kids, Adrianol) products as a last resort. Usually you can manage without using them.

To rinse the nose for rhinitis, use saline solution (a teaspoon of salt per liter of boiled water), or its analogues - Aqua Maris, Salin, Marimer, Humer. When rinsing, excess snot is removed from the nose, the mucous membrane is moistened and breathing is normalized.

Review
“As I understand it, it’s not possible to get rid of rhinitis during pregnancy. The doctor prescribed Tafen Nasal, saline solution in the nose, more fluid))) It is clear that these are only temporary solutions, they cannot be treated, so I asked him then how long I would walk with a stuffy nose. He said that it would take a month and a half, but, pah-pah, it passed in three weeks. She treated with the same Tafen Nazal, but rarely when the nose did not breathe at all. So I managed without drugs at all. I advise you to do the same.”
Anya, from messages on the forum

It is practically useless to use inhalations, homeopathic remedies, and drops based on essential oils for rhinitis in pregnant women - they will not affect the patient’s condition, but they can also cause various side effects. Moreover, drops with antibiotics, antiviral and immunomodulatory agents are useless and undesirable for this disease.

Rinsing the nose with saline is a useful procedure in any case

In any case, before treating rhinitis during pregnancy, you must consult a doctor to diagnose the disease, assess your general condition and select the safest and most effective remedies.

Treatment

As a rule, there is no treatment for vasomotor rhinitis. A few weeks after the baby is born, it goes away on its own. However, the symptoms of the disease can cause discomfort and greatly complicate the life of the expectant mother. With a constantly stuffy nose, it is difficult to sleep and eat, the amount of oxygen entering the lungs is reduced, which can cause fetal hypoxia. In addition, this condition forces the pregnant woman to breathe with her mouth open, and this significantly increases the risk of contracting viral and infectious diseases.

Doctors' recommendations and treatment for a runny nose are aimed, first of all, at relieving symptoms. To do this, a specialist must not only diagnose vasomotor rhinitis, but also conduct an examination, excluding infections, adenoids or polyps, but also select individual treatment, taking into account the general health of the expectant mother.

The first and main thing the doctor pays attention to are actions that are categorically not recommended when carrying a child. These include treating a runny nose with vasoconstrictor drops. Drugs such as Galazolin, Naphthyzin or Sanorin are prescribed only in cases where other drugs are unable to help. The negative effect of vasoconstrictor drops during pregnancy is that under their influence the capillaries and blood vessels of the placenta can narrow, blocking the supply of oxygen and blood to the fetus. In addition, these drugs are addictive, and after the first week of use, you simply cannot do without them.

Prevention of rhinitis in pregnant women

It is impossible to protect yourself from the development of rhinitis in pregnant women. Whether it appears or not will depend on how the body reacts to hormonal changes during fetal development, and such a reaction can be quite pronounced both in healthy women and in those predisposed to diseases of the nose and sinuses.

However, you can reduce the risk of rhinitis during pregnancy if you do not smoke, play sports, especially those types that require intense aerobic training (running, swimming, rowing, cycling), strengthen the immune system, and prevent infectious rhinitis and sinusitis from becoming chronic. forms, maintain nasal hygiene and avoid frequent breathing in dry, dusty air. With such measures, even the resulting rhinitis will proceed unnoticed and will not cause significant trouble to the pregnant woman.

What is hormonal rhinitis

Rain, dampness and slush contribute to the spread of viruses that cause respiratory diseases, accompanied by sneezing and runny nose. The nasal mucosa becomes inflamed not only due to bad weather, exposure to unfavorable ecology, but also under the influence of changes in the state of the body.

Vasomotor rhinitis occurs when the amount of hormones that participate in processes occurring in the human body increases or decreases. These substances are sent into the blood from the endocrine system, consisting of glands, ovaries, adrenal glands and several other structures. It is she who creates the hormonal background in a pregnant woman, which promotes the proper development of the fetus.

A change in this status can affect any organ and often manifests as mucus discharge. This type of runny nose is not allergic in nature, is not viral in nature and is called hormonal rhinitis. The pathology has all the signs of a respiratory disease.

How to treat allergic rhinitis during pregnancy, read the link.