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Getting strep throat (bacterial pharyngitis) during pregnancy is even more frustrating than it is normally. Rest assured you are not alone if questioning strep throat during pregnancy. Strep throat is a bacterial infection in the throat and the tonsils. The throat gets irritated and inflamed, causing a sudden, severe sore throat. There are many different types of strep bacteria. Some cause more serious illness than others. Women can get strep throat during pregnancy, but being pregnant does not make a woman more likely to get it.
It may be hard for you to tell the difference between Strep throat and a sore throat within the first couple days of contracting the condition. A strep throat has these symptoms:
- Chills
- Red throat
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Swollen and tender lymph nodes (glands) in the neck
- Lack of appetite
- Pus on tonsils
- Stomach ache
- Red, sandpaper-like rash
If you are pregnant and think you may have strep throat, please see your primary care physician. Doctors can treat strep throat with medications that fight bacterial infections. Although it does not often happen, untreated strep throat during pregnancy can lead to serious medical complications for both you and the baby.
Strep throat pain often appears suddenly, usually 2–5 days after a person comes into contact with the Streptococcus, or strep, bacteria. Your throat will feel swollen, and it may be hard for you to talk. You may also find it difficult to swallow foods and even liquids. At the back of the throat, white spots or pus surrounding the tonsils may be visible.
A sore throat infection need not always be a streptococcal infection, Your doctor will make a proper diagnosis to determine if you have a strep throat. If you are experiencing a sore throat with no strep throat symptoms, we have put together a few remedies to get some relief. It is important to note, if any symptoms of strep throat appear, make sure to call your doctor.
- Honey lemon tea: Honey might help in soothing the throat, and lemon could combat bacteria and clear the mucus.
How to prepare:
- Boil a cup of water
- Add honey and lemon juice to it
- Let it cool down and drink
- Steam inhalation or humidifier: Steam inhalation moistens your mucous membrane and could offer relief from a dry throat. You can also use a humidifier in your room to keep the air moist. Make sure you clean the humidifier from time to time to prevent bacteria growth.
How to use:
- Boil water in a large pot
- Breathe in the steam for some time
- Turmeric saltwater gargle: Saltwater could help in hydrating the throat membranes and soothes the irritation. Turmeric is said to have a therapeutic effect on cough and soreness of the throat.
How to use:
- Add half a teaspoon of salt and turmeric powder to one cup of warm water
- Gargle in every hour to get relief from the pain
- Chamomile tea: According to the National Institute of Health’s manuscript, chamomile tea infusion could be used to wash or gargle an inflamed throat.
How to prepare:
- Boil a cup of water
- Add a chamomile tea bag to the boiling water and steep it for five minutes
- Strain it and gargle.
- Ginger tea: Ginger has antifungal and antibacterial properties. It might help in reducing the inflammation of the throat.
How to prepare:
- Boil a cup of water and add about an inch of peeled fresh ginger
- Steep it for five minutes. Add honey for sweetness and drink the tea
- You may add fresh mint leaves for a soothing effect
When To See A Doctor
A viral sore throat infection might subside within a week. However, if you notice any of the following symptoms, then it is best to seek a doctor’s advice.
- If the sore throat lasts for more than a week.
- You have developed a fever along with the sore throat.
- The sore throat developed suddenly, and you find it difficult to swallow.
- The home remedies don’t seem to work.
- Your doctor would examine your symptoms and recommend additional tests to check for a strep throat infection, which might need antibiotic medication.
