How to get Pregnant » Flu During Pregnancy
Flu During Pregnancy
Influenza or the common flu is a respiratory infection caused by a number of viruses. The viruses pass through the air and enter your body through your nose or mouth. Infection usually lasts for about a week, and is characterized by sudden onset of high fever, aching muscles, headache and severe malaise, non-productive cough, sore throat and rhinitis. The virus is often transmitted easily from person to person via droplets and small particles produced when infected people cough or sneeze.
Normally, flu lasts about 5-7 days, but it can develop complications and this can lead to hospitalizations for many days. Complicated or severe disease is characterized by symptoms of lower respiratory tract illness, secondary infection and sepsis, encephalopathy, dehydration, and multi-organ failure.
If you are pregnant, certainly you do not want these complications to occur! Influenza during pregnancy is associated with high risk of morbidity and mortality. During influenza season, significantly more pregnant women are hospitalized for respiratory diseases than non-respiratory causes. Also, the rate of hospital admissions among pregnant women with underlying medical conditions is higher compared with women without comorbidities.
So, how can you avoid flu during pregnancy? Here are some tips.
Protection from Flu
First, you should increase your fluid intake to eight to 10 glasses of liquids per day. Water is important, of course, but juices, pop and both all provide extra fluids, as well as nutritional intake at a time when your appetite may be decreased. If you do not feel like eating, try to maintain your nutritional intake with six small meals instead of three regular size meals.
You need to have lost of rest to boost your immune system. You may want to elevate your head to enhance breathing and decrease post-nasal drip.
Fever is another symptom of flu which you have to deal with. Monitor your temperature at least once daily, and call your health care professional if your temperature rises over 101 degrees Fahrenheit. You should also call the clinic if you begin to cough up green/yellow sputum or experience shortness of breath, persistent chest pain, or severe sore throat. If you are less than 12 weeks pregnant, or more than 38 weeks, we prefer that you use no medication unless recommended by your physician.
When you catch the flu with nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea, it is important to maintain your nutritional intake.
During Pregnancy