Can pregnant women with a cold use air conditioning? What should they pay attention to?

As we all know, women's physical constitution is relatively weak during pregnancy. They cannot take medicine for illnesses such as minor colds because it will affect the development of the baby. But during the cold period, what should pregnant women do when it is extremely hot or cold? Can pregnant women use air conditioning when they have a cold? The editor will tell you whether pregnant women can use air conditioning when they have a cold, whether it will be bad for their health, and whether it will also harm their baby.

Colds can be divided into narrow and broad categories. In the narrow sense, it refers to the common cold, which is a mild viral infection of the upper respiratory tract (nose and throat). In a broad sense, it also includes influenza, which is generally more severe than the common cold. Additional symptoms include fever, chills and muscle aches, and systemic symptoms are more obvious.

The incubation period ranges from 1 to 3 days, depending on the virus. Enterovirus is the shortest, while adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus are longer. Onset is sudden. Most patients experience a burning sensation in the nose and throat first, followed by nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, general malaise and muscle aches. Symptoms peak within 48 hours (virus uncoating). Acute nasopharyngitis usually does not cause fever or only has a low fever, especially when it is caused by rhinovirus or coronavirus infection. There may be conjunctival congestion, tearing, photophobia, swollen eyelids, and edema of the throat mucosa.

Whether or not pharyngitis and tracheitis occur varies from person to person and from virus to virus. Nasal discharge initially appears as a large amount of clear watery mucus, which later becomes mucous or purulent. Mucopurulent discharge does not necessarily indicate secondary bacterial infection. The cough is usually mild and may last up to 2 weeks. Purulent sputum or severe lower respiratory tract symptoms suggest viral comorbidity other than rhinovirus or secondary bacterial infection.

When children have a cold, their symptoms are often more severe than those of adults, and they often have lower respiratory tract symptoms and gastrointestinal tract symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, etc.). Colds are mostly self-limited and, if there are no complications, last 4 to 10 days.

Pregnant women should avoid using air conditioning when they have a cold. After all, excessive use of air conditioning can cause certain harm to the body and may aggravate the cold of pregnant women. It can also affect the development of the baby in the belly. Therefore, the editor recommends that pregnant mothers try not to use air conditioning during a cold, for their own health and the health of their baby.