Nausea And Speeding Heart Can Be Signs Of Flu In Pregnant Women

Nausea in pregnant women tends to fade after the first three months, but during the second and third trimesters it can be a sign of flu, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have found in a study of expectant women who sought medical care.

“People don’t necessarily think of influenza when you include the symptoms of nausea or vomiting, but our study showed that they are common with influenza in pregnancy,” said Dr. Vanessa Rogers, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and lead author of the study, which appears in the May edition of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

“Both physicians and patients should be aware of these findings so treatment is not delayed,” she said. “I think our findings should encourage people to be vigilant and to take symptoms seriously.”

Adults with flu tend not to have nausea or vomiting, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These symptoms are more typical in children.

The researchers studied the cases of pregnant women during the 2003-2004 flu season, when the most common strain of influenza caused more severe symptoms than usual. There also were more cases of flu than expected, because the vaccine given that year didn’t match the strain that was predominant. Read more

Sinus Infection Or Cold?

Have a cold that just won’t go away or is getting worse? Chances are your cold has developed into a sinus infection a common problem this time of year, says Alan Wild, M.D., assistant professor of otolaryngology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.

“Most colds resolve without progressing to a sinus infection,” Wild said. “However, acute sinus infections those that last less than two weeks almost always begin as a cold.”

Telling the difference between the two illnesses can be difficult because they share many symptoms, such as headaches, congestion and discolored nasal drainage. However, if you experience a fever, persistent or worsening symptoms that last longer than seven days, thick nasal mucus or dental pain, you have most likely developed a sinus infection, Wild warns.

To keep a cold from turning into to a sinus infection, Wild recommends using saline nasal rinses such as a nettie pot or NeilMed Sinus Rinse™, as well as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Decongestants, such as Sudafed, Mucinex and Vick’s Vapor Rub, cool mist vaporizers or even sitting in a steamy shower also may help. Of course there’s no substitution for resting and staying well hydrated.

Antibiotics are effective only when the sinus infection is caused by a bacterial infection something that only can be determined by a physician. Wild recommends starting with over-the-counter treatments before talking to your doctor about antibiotics. Read more

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