Mucus in the nasopharynx during pregnancy: how to treat


Safe drugs

If necessary therapy is neglected, coughing in the first or second trimester can lead to serious complications.
For example, a cough can easily turn into pneumonia or bronchitis, when it is no longer possible to manage without antibiotics. And in the early stages, antibiotic therapy is extremely dangerous for fetal development. In late gestation, antibiotics can lead to premature birth. Self-medication can cause irreparable harm to the fetus

When a bacterial infection is attached, intrauterine infection of the fetus can occur, causing defects in its development. Moreover, with constant coughing, muscle tissue becomes tense, which leads to hypertonicity of the uterine muscles. Such overexertion is fraught with the threat of miscarriage. If the placental tissues are located lower, then when coughing, the load on them almost doubles, because on the one hand the pressure comes from the child, and on the other, from the uterine walls, which are in a state of tone. Such pressure is fraught with placental abruption and the threat of abortion.

Cough during pregnancy in the early stages can increase ailments due to toxicosis, in particular, nausea. Vomiting reactions become more frequent, but do not bring any relief. As a result, the pregnant woman’s well-being worsens, and the patient’s mental and emotional state suffers.

In the first trimester, viral cold infections are incredibly dangerous, because it is at this time that the necessary systems and intraorganic structures of the baby are formed. By 10 weeks, the likelihood of abnormal fetal development is reduced. But if before this time the mother is bothered by a cough in the 1st trimester, then the uterus will constantly be in good shape, which will lead to disruption of the normal fetal blood supply and hypoxia.

What else do you need to know

The second stage of gestation is a calmer time regarding medication use. The baby is already gaining weight, and his organs are almost formed. The placenta actively protects the baby from viral effects and the negative effects of medications, and coughing during this period is no longer as dangerous as before. But you should not self-medicate, because at the second stage of gestation the active formation of the endocrine, nervous and skeletal systems occurs. If you take homeopathy or herbs on your own, you can disrupt normal fetal development.

But if the cough is very strong, then in the 3rd trimester it can cause harm. Firstly, it creates a threat of premature delivery, secondly, it can provoke placental abruption and water leakage, and thirdly, it negatively affects the functioning of the mammary gland, making lactation difficult.

Pregnancy has nothing to do with diseases that are accompanied by cough. However, there is some peculiarity: the period of pregnancy is characterized by swelling of the bronchial mucosa, which makes expectoration difficult. That is why, when treating a cough in a pregnant woman, it is sometimes necessary to add drugs that dilate the bronchi.

A wet cough does not have much effect on the course of pregnancy. In rare cases, when the disease becomes protracted and is accompanied by an abundance of purulent sputum, intrauterine infection of the fetus is possible. This is typical for bronchiectasis, exacerbations of chronic bronchitis and pneumonia.

Every woman can get colds during pregnancy, but it is very important not to let the disease get worse in order to avoid the development of a number of complications. A frequent accompaniment of colds is a cough, which must be eliminated using suitable medications. As a rule, during pregnancy, herbal antitussive drugs are prescribed, which will help eliminate the unpleasant symptom with minimal risk to the fetus.

  1. Doctor Mom. This cough medicine is available in two forms: lollipops with different flavors and an ointment for rubbing. Lollipops are prohibited during pregnancy and breastfeeding, but the balm can be used if there is no hypersensitivity to the components of the product. The drug contains components of exclusively natural origin. The ointment is enriched with menthol, eucalyptus oil, camphor, nutmeg oil, etc. The balm has analgesic, antiseptic, antifungal and antibacterial effects. A product is used to rub the chest and back area to relieve cough and eliminate it completely.
  2. Mukaltin. It is allowed to use Mucaltin during pregnancy, which helps to liquefy and remove sputum when coughing. The effect of the drug is achieved due to the main active ingredient - marshmallow root, which has an expectorant, anti-inflammatory, softening and enveloping effect. Available in the form of gray tablets with a characteristic sour taste. Used to treat cough with laryngitis, bronchitis, tracheitis, bronchial asthma, pneumonia, etc. It is not recommended to use the drug in the early stages of pregnancy, when there is a possibility of spontaneous abortion. In other cases, the drug can be taken, but taking into account the individual characteristics of the body and the presence of certain diseases of the internal organs.
  3. Licorice syrup. Coughs during pregnancy can be treated with Licorice syrup, but only with the permission of the attending physician. The plant substances included in the product help relieve coughing attacks, thin mucus, strengthen the body's defense system, and eliminate the inflammatory process in the bronchi. The drug is prescribed as part of complex therapy to relieve dry and wet cough.
  4. Eucabal syrup can be used during pregnancy, but strictly following the dosage. The course of treatment and the regimen for taking the drug should be developed exclusively by a doctor. Self-administration of this medicine during pregnancy is prohibited, since it contains a small amount of ethyl alcohol.
  5. Syrup Stodal. The use of this drug is not always justified during pregnancy, since in addition to components of plant origin, it contains a certain amount of ethanol. The use of syrup during pregnancy and breastfeeding is possible, but only with the permission of a doctor.
  6. Lollipops Travisil. With the help of these lollipops you can not only stop a cough attack, but also eliminate a sore throat. It contains extracts of medicinal herbs that strengthen the immune system, promote the removal of phlegm, and have an antiseptic effect. The dosage of the drug is selected individually for each patient by the attending physician.

There are many other popular and advertised products whose instructions do not indicate whether they can be used during pregnancy. Many take this as an absence of contraindications and treat cough with drugs, thereby provoking the occurrence of a number of complications. After all, most often the lack of information in the insert indicates that the drug was not tested on pregnant women and no one knows how the body will react to taking it during this period. That is why it is very important to purchase cough remedies during pregnancy only those prescribed by your doctor.

Phlegm in the throat without coughing causes

Sputum is a pathological substance secreted mainly by the bronchi and trachea.
Most often, the appearance of phlegm in the throat is accompanied by a cough, but in some cases, increased secretion of phlegm can occur without a cough. Normally, there is no mucus in the throat, and the tracheobronchial structures contain mucus, which has a bactericidal effect and contributes to the death of inhaled bacteria and dust particles.
The amount of such mucus does not exceed 0.1 liters and, if it enters the oral cavity, it is either swallowed or spat out by a person.

Treatment of wet cough during pregnancy: approved remedies

Sputum has rheological properties (viscosity, elasticity, ductility). These properties determine whether it will be easy or difficult for sputum to come out. Increased viscosity and high stickiness make expectoration difficult, which leads to disruption of the cilia of the ciliated epithelium and paralysis of mucociliary transport. The consequence of this is the closure of the bronchus, stagnation of purulent mucus and the spread of infection.

To facilitate the discharge of sputum, agents are used that improve its rheological properties and thereby relieve coughing.

The well-known advice to take frequent warm drinks when coughing is not accidental: warm drink changes the properties of sputum, dilutes it and improves its outflow. As a warm drink you can use:

  • linden decoction;
  • viburnum with honey;
  • propolis – you can just chew it;
  • milk with soda or mineral water.

Drinking relieves soreness in the throat and behind the sternum. To improve expectoration, alkaline inhalations are good, especially using a nebulizer, soda and with the addition of aminophylline. Inhalation allows targeted delivery of the drug. In addition, local treatment, due to its safety, is what is needed during pregnancy.

If these measures are not enough, then the need for expectorant medications arises. The best are mucoactive agents. Conventionally, they are divided into:

  • mucolytics;
  • mucokinetics. Mucokinetics include drugs with irritating effects. Acting on stomach receptors, they enhance the production of bronchial secretions. The familiar thermopsis, terpene hydrate, ammonium chloride, sodium bicarbonate. Thermopsis mixture is indicated for all stages of pregnancy;
  • mucoregulators.

Mucoactive agents include drugs based on bromhexine (Mucodex, Bisalvon, Phlegamine), ambroxol (Ambrosan, Trisolvin) and chymotrypsin:

  • Mucaltin is indicated at a dose of 200 mg per day (50 mg 4 times). Read more about Mucaltin during pregnancy.
  • Ambroxol: one tablet 2 times a day (60 mg per day).
  • Bromhexine 2 tablets 4 times a day (64 mg per day).
  • For difficult to separate sputum, inhalation of chymotrypsin 2 times a day (20 mg per day) is indicated.

If you do not follow the indicated dosages of the drugs, the effect is significantly reduced. In practice, doctors note that in a disease with a cough, sputum production increases significantly by 4-5 days, which happens even without treatment.

To relieve bronchospasm, aminophylline is used - 0.15 g 3 times a day or ephedrine - 0.05 g 3 times a day.

As a rule, antibiotics can be avoided when treating a wet cough. In rare cases, for severe bronchitis in the first trimester of pregnancy, penicillin (1,000,000–2,000,000 units per day) or ampicillin (0.5 g 4 times a day) is recommended. From the second trimester, you can expand your arsenal with cephalosporins (Tseporin, Kefzol, Cefuroxime) 0.5–1 g 4 times a day. Find out how antibiotics affect pregnancy.

The pharmacy may offer the drug Gerbion, a syrup based on Icelandic moss, for the treatment of cough. Its main effect is antitussive, but it is not indicated for wet coughs. Its antitussive effect (cough suppression) is not appropriate for the treatment of wet cough and can cause harm, because with a wet cough, one should not suppress the cough, but in every possible way facilitate it so that the sputum is better removed.

The instructions for the drug say that it is not recommended for use by pregnant and lactating women. No clinical studies have been conducted on the effect of this drug on the fetus.

Lyubov Maslikhova, general practitioner, especially for Mirmam.pro

During pregnancy, you can take medications in two forms of the drug: tablets, syrups. These are the most convenient and safe forms for expectant mothers.

In the first trimester, it is not recommended to use medications without a doctor’s prescription. The instructions for herbal and homeopathic syrups for the treatment of wet cough say that the drugs should be taken with caution, since clinical studies have not been conducted on pregnant women, that is, the manufacturer does not guarantee that the products are safe for expectant mothers.

Proper treatment of sputum in pregnant women

If you follow important rules, sputum during pregnancy can be quickly removed and thus, cough and its consequences can be treated:

  • A sufficient amount of warm drink allows you to speed up the liquefaction and discharge of secretions;
  • Breathing exercises and postural drainage: massage the chest from the edges to the center in a supine position, when the head is lower than the chest (pillow or cushion under the lower back and chest). Another option is to roll from side to side, hanging the upper half of the body from the bed. Before the massage, you should take inhalation or take mucolytics and expectorants orally, and then cough. The procedure helps to get rid of sputum from the trachea and bronchi, treating cough in this way is safe and effective even during pregnancy;
  • An important role is played by inhalations, cold or warm steam (essential oils, mineral water, soda, decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs), through a nebulizer (mineral water, ambroxol). The last option is the most preferable, since the fine aerosol penetrates deeply into the respiratory tree and has the maximum effect, quickly relieves cough, while at the same time relieving inflammation, and is safe during pregnancy;
  • Inhalation of cold air, immobile bed rest, hypothermia, and taking antitussive medications should be avoided to avoid bronchospasm and sputum stagnation.

How to treat phlegm

Herbal tea can significantly alleviate the condition

The ideal choice for pregnant women for severe coughs are proven home remedies that are safe for the fetus. Even if they do not always act quickly, like medications, however, with the help of such drugs alone it is quite possible to cope with the removal of phlegm and eliminate a debilitating cough. It is useful to drink plenty and often of warm drinks, for example lemon tea with honey or milk with the addition of soda, linden blossom infusion, etc.

If the sputum is highly viscous, then inhalations are useful to help thin the sputum. It is especially effective to use essential oils of medicinal plants such as thyme or thyme, camphor, etc. for inhalation. And if you combine inhalation with internal administration of marshmallow root decoction, then the pathological symptoms go away much faster, the sputum thins out quickly enough, so it is much easier to expectorate.

Frequent gargling procedures are also effective for dry coughs. They not only relieve irritation and inflammation, but also significantly alleviate the condition of a pregnant woman when she is unable to cough normally. Such rinses should be carried out 8 or more times a day, preferably after meals. You can add a little soda, salt, apple cider vinegar, etc. to such rinsing solutions.

In general, cough therapy, which is difficult to treat with home remedies, involves an integrated approach using pharmacological agents and inhalations, rubbing with warming ointments and herbal medicine, physiotherapeutic procedures, etc.

Constant phlegm in the throat without cough: causes and treatment


Sputum is a special secret produced by the cells of the bronchi.
As it moves through the respiratory tract, mucus from the nose and saliva are mixed into it. In a healthy person, it is transparent, mucous and is released exclusively in small quantities when coughing, and then only if he smokes or works in conditions of increased dust formation.

Negative consequences of drug treatment

It is necessary to remember that in the early stages of pregnancy, the formation and formation of all organs and systems of the embryo occurs, therefore the list of approved drugs during this period is very limited. All products containing the following list of herbs are prohibited from taking in the first trimester of pregnancy:

  1. Ivy.
  2. Anise.
  3. Elecampane root.
  4. Oregano.
  5. Thyme.
  6. Coltsfoot.
  7. Plantain.
  8. Pine buds.

These herbs have a tonic effect on the uterus, which can provoke spontaneous abortion.

Expectorants

When using medications, the main thing is to have minimal impact on the baby. To avoid chronicity, it is necessary to contact a specialist in a timely manner and follow all his recommendations exactly. At first, the cough is dry with no sputum. It occurs with characteristic soreness, respiratory spasms, and breathing problems.

  • To improve the removal of sputum, inhalations, warming ointments on the chest and herbal decoctions are prescribed.
  • The doctor must prescribe each remedy individually, because it has its own individual contraindications.
  • Sometimes it is impossible to do without the use of mucolytic expectorants.
  • It is not recommended for pregnant women to take drugs of synthetic origin before 12 weeks.
  • During this period, vital structures are formed.
  • Therefore, treatment is possible only with the use of a limited number of drugs.
  • During these weeks, drugs like Eucabal, marshmallow root syrup and Mucaltin are acceptable.

Eucabalus

This drug is a mixture of plantain and thyme extracts. The product is produced in suspension form. Eucabal has practically no contraindications, except for hypersensitivity to the components of the product. Eucabal suspension must be taken in long courses, so pregnant women prone to allergies may experience an allergic reaction.

Marshmallow root syrup

The product contains plant mucus that coats the respiratory mucous membranes, relieving irritation and reducing inflammation. The syrup has the only contraindication – individual intolerance. May provoke an allergic reaction due to hypersensitivity to the components. Otherwise, the syrup is safe for pregnant women.

Mukaltin

Any pills - only as prescribed by a doctor

The product contains marshmallow root, as well as various extracts of other medicinal plants. Before use, the tablet must be dissolved in water and then drunk. The drug has anti-inflammatory and expectorant effects. Used in the treatment of pathologies of the upper respiratory system.

At the second stage of gestation, the fetus is already protected by placental structures. But with a cough of viral etiology, there is a high risk that placental insufficiency will occur, which is dangerous due to hypoxia and negative consequences for fetal development. In addition, in the second trimester, nervous system structures continue to form.

If disturbances occur in these processes, this is fraught with the development of encephalopathy, cerebral palsy, PEP, etc. in the fetus. To exclude unfavorable complications and eliminate coughing, qualified drug therapy is necessary. In addition to the medications listed above, the pregnant woman may be prescribed medications such as Bronchipret, Bronchicum, Gedelix, and sometimes Ambroxol or Bromhexine.

Bronchipret

A drug based on an extract of useful medicinal herbs such as ivy, thyme, etc. The product has an antispasmodic, expectorant and moderate anti-inflammatory effect. Due to the presence of ethanol in the composition, Bronchipret can only be taken as prescribed by a doctor.

Bronchicum

This remedy is a herbal expectorant. Bronchicum is used in the complex treatment of pathological conditions of the upper respiratory system. It is contraindicated to take the drug for heart pathologies, liver or kidney diseases. Contains ammonia and glycerol.

Gedelix

A herbal medicine with active ingredients in the form of ivy extract (leaves). The drug is prescribed for the treatment of tracheitis and bronchitis, and other respiratory pathologies, which are accompanied by severe cough and difficulties with the discharge of secretions from the bronchi.

  • Also, at the second stage of gestation, patients can be prescribed drugs from the category of synthetic drugs, for example, Ambroxol or Bromhexine, but they can only be taken as prescribed by a doctor when the potential threat does not exceed the expected therapeutic effect.
  • At the final stage of gestation, the list of expectorant drugs expands again.
  • By this time, the fetus acquires its own immune protection, and is also protected by placental structures.
  • All this minimizes possible risks to the fetus when taking drugs of various origins.

The most common and effective drugs prescribed at this stage of pregnancy are Prospan and Gerbion.

overslept

An excellent drug, has a plant nature, provides a pronounced mucolytic, antispasmodic and expectorant effect. In a short time it helps pregnant women cope with a debilitating cough.

Gerbion

The drug has an anti-inflammatory and expectorant effect, and is contraindicated in endocrine pathologies such as diabetes, etc. The main component is plantain extract. It is recommended to take this medication only as directed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6vA4Fb7OKo

Cough therapy in pregnant women should always be carried out under the strict supervision of treating specialists. Self-treatment is fraught with the development of complications, the cough becoming chronic and other troubles.

Types of phlegm in the throat

Before talking about phlegm in the throat in the absence of a cough, it is necessary to understand the types of this secretion. By the nature of sputum one can judge its composition.

  • Regular sputum is a mucous discharge. Does not contain any impurities and resembles slightly viscous saliva. As a rule, there is no distinctive smell.
  • Mucopurulent sputum - in addition to mucus, it contains accumulations of purulent elements. A distinctive point is that there is much more mucus in this sputum than pus.
  • The purulent-mucous character is distinguished by a large amount of pus with a heavy type of mucus.
  • Purulent sputum - discharge is characterized by the presence of “pure” pus without mucus. Most often it has an unpleasant odor and a whitish or yellowish-white tint.
  • Muco-bloody sputum - its composition has a large amount of mucous component mixed with blood streaks.
  • The mucous-bloody-purulent nature of sputum is distinguished by the content of mucous, purulent and blood components in equal volumes.
  • Bloody sputum - practically does not contain mucus and contains “pure” blood (possibly in the form of veins, coagules).
  • Serous-mucous sputum - consists mainly of blood plasma, which sweats into the cavity of the bronchial tree.

It should also be noted that sputum in the throat without coughing can be divided depending on the consistency: liquid, mucus-like, thick and viscous. All this depends on the amount of mucus and the presence of impurities (blood cells, purulent particles, ciliated epithelium or detritus).

Traditional methods of removing phlegm

Folk remedies effectively help cope with cough throughout gestation, but they are especially useful, and sometimes necessary, in the first weeks of pregnancy. The best expectorant among folk remedies is considered to be dried figs brewed in milk. The dried fruits are boiled in cow's milk for about 30 minutes, then a warm brown drink is taken 3-4 times a day.

Onions are also great for coughs. Chop two peeled onions, add several large spoons of sugar and pour in 2 glasses of water. Then the mixture is boiled for an hour over low heat, cooled slightly and filtered, add ½ cup honey. The mixture is taken after each snack or full meal.

Additional tips:

  • Stop smoking.
  • Don't drink cold drinks.
  • Drinks should be at room temperature.
  • Avoid strong cleaning agents and paint smells.
  • They can negatively affect your nose, throat, and lungs.
  • Eat spicy foods with chili, ginger - these foods are great for removing phlegm.
  • Don't swallow mucus.
  • Rinse your mouth with salt water and spit it out.

The topic we discussed today, mucus in the throat of an adult, and how to get rid of the symptoms of the disease, is a serious, vital question. I hope I helped at least someone. Never get sick!

Best regards, Svetlana E.

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