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Allergic runny nose in pregnancy
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
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[ Causes of allergic rhinitis during pregnancy
Since the immune system of a pregnant woman works in a very tense mode and often fails, anything can become an irritant that provokes the development of an allergy. Thus, allergic rhinitis can appear in a pregnant woman suddenly, without any apparent reason.
A runny nose during pregnancy can often be caused by an allergy. Nowadays, allergies are a fairly common problem for many people. Allergic rhinitis (medically called "hay fever") is an inflammation of the nasal mucosa. Such inflammation can be caused by various allergens: dust, pollen from flowering plants, fungal spores, pet hair, strong odors, etc. With allergic rhinitis, symptoms such as increased discharge of colorless mucus from the nasal passages are observed, often accompanied by urticaria, swelling, and active sneezing. Usually, the allergic reaction stops immediately after contact with the allergens.
Symptoms of allergic rhinitis during pregnancy
Most often, copious nasal discharge observed with allergic rhinitis is accompanied by lacrimation, itching of the nasal passages, skin, and a dry cough in pregnant women. Due to impaired nasal breathing, the expectant mother may develop insomnia and loss of appetite. The most dangerous consequence of this condition is the addition of an infection to it against the background of weakened immunity, resulting in sinusitis, sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, etc.
Fortunately, allergic rhinitis during pregnancy does not pose a danger to the intrauterine development of the child. Its negative impact is possible only in two cases:
- untimely treatment or treatment that does not correspond to the severity of the disease;
- severe degree of the disease, complicated by infection.
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Treatment of allergic rhinitis during pregnancy
Of course, a pregnant woman is not recommended to self-medicate or let allergic rhinitis progress to the point of complications. The expectant mother must strictly follow all recommendations prescribed by the antenatal clinic. To prevent allergic rhinitis, pregnant women should avoid contact with substances that have strong allergenic properties. It is recommended to use household chemicals as little as possible, not to use perfumes, and to limit the consumption of products that cause allergies, in particular, citrus fruits and chocolate. It is better for a pregnant woman to refrain from contact with pets, ventilate the room more often, and wet-clean the home.
The need for medical treatment of allergic rhinitis in pregnant women is caused by the fact that its symptoms can be managed, but it is almost impossible to cure it on your own. An experienced doctor will prescribe medications to the expectant mother that suppress the painful reaction, having assessed the ratio of benefits and possible risks from their use.
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