Pregnancy can make a woman vulnerable to many diseases like flu. In this time the immune system of the body is low. This can make you susceptible to influenza virus. Flu is a respiratory disease and it is more harmful than common cold. Complications from flu during pregnancy can lead to pneumonia that is fatal for both the mother and the baby.

There are several symptoms of early flu during pregnancy.  Having a severe headache, runny nose or scratchy sore throat are a few signs. Also extreme fatigue, losing appetite and persistent cough are symptoms of the influenza. This infection can be potentially dangerous if not treated in time. Prevention of flu is very important during pregnancy. You can maintain proper hygiene and also get vaccinated as preventive methods.

The early flu symptoms are given below:

Early Flu Symptoms During Pregnancy

Headache

Headache is a common symptom of flu during pregnancy. If you have severe headache it might be an early sign. It is much more severe than a normal headache from common cold. Persistent intense headache can interfere with your daily life. Consult a doctor to know if you are coming down with flu.

Read More: 11 Home Remedies for Headache During Pregnancy

Runny/stuffy nose

Having a runny nose or nasal congestion both indicated flu infection. It is a very common sign of flu. You can have a runny nose like in common cold. Also you can experience stuffy nose. It is important to understand whether this indicates common cold or influenza.

Read More: Cold Sores During Pregnancy: Can They Be Dangerous?

Body ache

Body ache is also a symptom of flu. It is often ignored by many as a possible symptom of flu. Even common cold can cause body pain. But flu infection causes intense body pain.  It can occur all over the body, but especially legs, hands and neck. Check with your doctor to see if the body pain is because of flu.

Read More: 11 Ways to Deal With Pregnancy Aches and Pains

Chills

Body ache is often accompanied by chills in case of flu. If you experience body chills during pregnancy, it might be flu. Body chills is common for influenza. It does not appear in case of common cold. Chills are therefore a significant sign of flu during pregnancy.

Sore throat

A scratchy sore throat is another early flu symptom. It usually bothers the most in the morning. Sore throat is very annoying. It causes trouble during swallowing. Flu can also cause swollen throat in many. It is important to consult a doctor as sore throat can be an early sign of flu.

Read More: Home Remedies For Swollen Feet During Pregnancy

Cough

Persistent hacking cough can be a sure shot indication of flu. The cough can be dry or have phlegm. Excessive coughing during pregnancy, accompanied by a sore throat, is a sign of flu. There might be wheezing during coughing and also a tightening of chest. It is necessary to confirm with a doctor whether it is because of flu.

Extreme fatigue

Feeling extremely fatigued all of a sudden is a major sign of influenza. It is one of the earliest signs. Flu can affect the immune system of the body badly. It can make you feel exhausted for no reason. This is a sign that should not be ignored. Immediately consult a doctor to confirm whether this exhaustion is a sign of contracting flu.

Fever

A high fever that goes above 104 degree F is another early sign of flu. High grade fever is common symptom of influenza. It may or may not be accompanied by chills. This kind of fever does not come down with normal medications. Such high fever does not occur in common cold. If you are running a high fever during pregnancy immediately consult a doctor.

Read More: 21 Simple and Effective Ways to Deal With Fever During Pregnancy

Loss of appetite

Losing appetite is an early sign of flu during pregnancy. It is a sign that not many people know of. When you contract flu virus, you are likely to lose your appetite. Not even your favorite food can temp you to eat. This is dangerous during pregnancy. Not eating properly will affect you and your baby. If you seem to lose interest in eating all of a sudden, better to check with a doctor.

Diarrhea

You might have diarrhea if you catch flu during pregnancy. This is one early symptom of flu. Influenza virus often affects the gastrointestinal system of the body. It might lead to severe diarrhea. It can be accompanied by stomach pain. Having diarrhea during pregnancy needs to be checked by a doctor immediately.

Vomiting

Vomiting can be another symptom of flu during pregnancy. Though feeling nauseous and vomiting is common as consequences of pregnancy. But flu virus can also bring about frequent vomiting. Severe and persistent vomiting can occur because of influenza. It is best to consult a doctor before the situation gets complicated.

Read More: 11 Effective Ways to Stop Vomiting During Pregnancy

Prevention

• Maintaining a proper hygiene is necessary to prevent catching flu. Flu is a contagious disease. It can spread through air. You can also catch flu if you touch an infected person. You must wash your hands carefully every time you eat, or visit the washroom.
• Do not stay near a person infected with flu. Avoid touching the person.
• Get a flu vaccine before you get pregnant. Vaccination is the best preventive method. The flu vaccine helps the baby to stay protected against flu even afire 6 months of being born.
• Wipe and clean the furniture, toys and even doorknobs with disinfectants. This will prevent the virus from spreading in your house.
• Do not touch things that are touched by a flu infected person. The virus might spread from there also.
• Having a healthy diet during pregnancy can actually prevent flu. Eat foods rich in vitamin C that will boost your immunity and fight infections.
• Getting enough sleep is another way to prevent influenza during pregnancy.

Conclusion

Influenza or flu is an infectious disease that is highly contagious. Flu is quite common during pregnancy because of the low immunity of the body during this time. There are many symptoms of flu during pregnancy. Some of the emergency symptoms include bloody mucus while coughing, trouble breathing, sudden dizziness etc.  It is important to take these symptoms seriously and get medical treatment. Flu can actually be fatal to your baby if not treated on time. It might cause miscarriage and also low birth weight of the baby. Immediately notify your doctor if you suspect you are experiencing symptoms of flu.

Reference

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/220686?redirect=true

http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-complications/flu-during-pregnancy/