Fever in pregnancy: causes, risks and remedies.

The body temperature varies at different times of the day and is considered normal when it settles around 37 °. Generally a few lines of fever are not worrying and not dangerous, but when a fever occurs during pregnancy, fears and questions about the risks that the baby could run arise.

Causes

Fever is not a disease in itself, but a defense mechanism of the body in response to an infection or some inflammatory condition. Therefore, fever should never be underestimated or ignored because it could indicate the presence of an underlying condition that is potentially harmful to the growing child.

Among the possible causes we find:

Food poisoning;

Respiratory tract infections;

Colds and flu.

Symptoms that occur in association with fever, such as:

Shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing;

Abdominal pain;

Stiff neck;

Chills ;

Abdominal pain;

Headache ;

Nausea and vomiting.

Fever in pregnancy remedies

Fever in pregnancy is not a condition that should be underestimated and must be kept under control first of all with antipyretics, such as Tachipirina. The right treatments, however, depend on the cause of the fever: if the infection is of a viral nature, it is possible to take Tachipirina , while if the fever is caused by a bacterial infection, antibiotic therapy prescribed by the doctor may be required.

Antibiotics are not always safe during pregnancy: therefore it is important to consult your doctor to accurately diagnose the type of bacterial infection responsible for the fever, the doctor can then prescribe an antibiotic suitable for the situation.
It is advisable to avoid aspirin and NSAIDs and avoid doing it yourself.

If the fever is linked to food poisoning or gastroenteritis that also causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, the most important thing to do is to rehydrate adequately with fluids, mineral salts and electrolyte supplements. Dehydration can cause contractions and preterm birth.

How to prevent fever in pregnancy

The best way to avoid getting a fever in pregnancy is to prevent any infections :

· Wash your hands frequently with soap;

· Stay away from sick or cold people;

· Avoid closed and crowded places;

· Get the flu shot.

Fever in pregnancy and Tachipirina

Paracetamol, the active ingredient in Tachipirina , is a drug considered safe during pregnancy and can be useful for both lowering fever and relieving pain. Generally, therefore, it is possible to take paracetamol to bring down the fever, always following the directions and dosage indicated by your doctor.

Fever in pregnancy and miscarriage

About 20% of pregnancies end in the first months of gestation due to a miscarriage. Fever is not necessarily the cause of a miscarriage, however it can be a symptom of an infection which in turn can cause a pregnancy loss.

According to some studies, infections can cause 15% of spontaneous abortions and up to 66% of late complications.

Although various pathogens have been associated with miscarriage, the mechanisms of infection-induced miscarriage are still not fully understood.

The speech, however, is different if the fever is very high:

· A temperature above 39.5 ° C during the first trimester increases the risk of miscarriage, but also of defects in the fetal brain or spinal cord.

A high fever in the third trimester of gestation, on the other hand, increases the risk of preterm birth.