Medical Treatment of Rhinitis in Pregnant Woman

Abstract

Rhinitis is a global problem and is described as the presence of at least one of the symptoms, such as sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal itching, and nasal obstruction. Gestational rhinitis is a common clinical condition found during pregnancy. Medical management options for pregnant women with rhinitis need careful consideration. It is often challenging to differentiate the causes of rhinitis as it often influences the treatment. Conservative treatment is an important option for patients with pregnancy-induced rhinitis and preexisting allergic or nonallergic rhinitis. Awareness about pregnancy-induced rhinitis and its resolve after pregnancy can provide some relief. Few options, such as exercises, nasal douching or lavage, positioning, and nasal valve dilators, are safe in pregnancy with rhinitis due to any etiology. Intranasal corticosteroids have often safe with budesonide. Oral corticosteroids can be used in pregnant women with moderate-to-severe disease and should be avoided in the first trimester. Second-generation antihistamines, such as loratadine and cetirizine, are the most well-studied drugs, and are often considered safe. The role of immunotherapy requires further research to establish its effectiveness. Hence, the treatment of rhinitis during pregnancy is considered a complex task. This review article aims to discuss the current medical treatment options for rhinitis during pregnancy.

Current treatment options for allergic rhinitis: a review

“…The fetal safety of loratadine and fexofenadine has not been established in controlled trials and so, their use for AR cannot be used unless firstline therapies have been tried and have failed. 38…”