Is there anything I should be concerned about with my baby/pregnancy? Should I seek help?

Question

Hello, I am a 27 year old woman 26 weeks pregnant. For the last 4 days I have felt an intense fatigue/feeling of weakness. I have been feeling very dizzy for the last 3 days with sometimes flashes of light in my vision. I think I even had a fever 2-3 times but I am not sure. Since yesterday evening I started to have a sore throat and ears. My tonsils seem to be inflamed with little white spots. I have more thick and colorless secretions coming from the back of my throat. Also a headache since this morning. Baby is moving well, I'm only k.o. and have been sleeping all day for a few days. I've been able to hydrate and eat well, I know that tonsillitis usually resolves itself. It's the pregnancy factor and the baby's well being that is bothering me. Thank you

Pierre-Luc Tremblay · Accepted Answer

Hello, The risk is also to get dehydrated, so you have the right reflex by making sure you are well hydrated and able to eat properly. The symptoms you describe can indeed be similar to an inflammation of the throat (pharyngitis-amygdalitis). Most of the time, it is a virus that is responsible for this infection: you can therefore use products available in pharmacies to relieve your symptoms (for example, an analgesic such as acetaminophen) as well as rest and good hydration. Symptoms usually last 3 to 5 days. However, in some cases, the infection is caused by bacteria (usually group A Streptococcus) and will require medical attention and antibiotics. Here is a way to help you distinguish between the 2 types of infection: Viral infection viral infection: usually starts gradually and is accompanied by other symptoms in addition to a sore throat, such as a runny nose , cough ,hoarseness of the voice or diarrhea. There isabsence of fever in the majority of cases. Bacterial infection: usually begins abruptly , severe sore throat , difficulty swallowing , increased size and tenderness of nodes located in the neck and throat, presence of pus in the tonsils. In most cases, there ispresence of fever andabsence of other symptoms (cough, runny nose) . Thus, in your situation, the presence of fever, great fatigue, white spots on the tonsils that you report could point to a bacterial infection. So, if you recognize yourself in this description, I recommend a medical consultation. I hope that I have answered your question correctly, Pierre-Luc Tremblay, pharmacist