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Abstract: After pregnancy, women’s skin becomes more sensitive due to changes in the body’s endocrine system and immune system. Pregnant women with allergies, in particular, are prone to develop pruritus of pregnancy, which manifests itself in various forms, such as itching, erythema, scratching, and rash. This was the case with the patient in this case, who reported itchy skin and localized red rash that interfered with sleep. After seeking medical attention, the patient’s pruritus symptoms were significantly relieved by medication and the red rash gradually subsided.
Basic information】Female, 26 years old
Disease Type】Pregnancy pruritus
Hospital】Jiangbin Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
Date of consultation】May 2022
Treatment plan】Medication (hydrocortisone cream, prednisone acetate tablets)
Treatment Period】15 days of outpatient treatment
Effectiveness】Itching symptoms were significantly relieved and the red rash gradually subsided.
I. Initial consultation
After eating durian at 23 weeks of pregnancy, she developed mild itchy skin and a small red rash on her abdomen, which was not taken seriously at first and was not treated. At this time, she was close to 28 weeks of pregnancy, and her obstetric examination at the hospital was normal. She informed the doctor of the itchy skin and rash during the obstetric examination, and further checked the serum total bile acids, which showed normal results and excluded intrahepatic cholestasis during pregnancy.
(abdominal red rash)
II. Treatment history
We explained to the pregnant woman that after pregnancy, due to the increase in estrogen and progesterone levels in the body and changes in the immune system, the skin of the body becomes more sensitive, and itching is more likely to occur especially in pregnant women with allergies. This disease is not directly and seriously harmful to the pregnant woman and her fetus, so pregnant women do not need to worry too much. However, due to the obvious symptoms of itching and rash, it easily affects the life of pregnant women, such as the emergence of irritability, poor sleep quality, and infection after scratching the skin, etc. In order to alleviate the symptoms, it is recommended to actively treat with medication under the guidance of a doctor, and pregnant women expressed their understanding and willingness to actively cooperate with the treatment. As the condition was not serious, outpatient medication and follow-up were given. The pregnant woman was advised to take anti-allergy medication, such as prednisone acetate tablets, and topical itching relief medication, such as hydrocortisone cream, was given.
III. Treatment effect
After 5 days of active treatment, the patient came to the outpatient clinic for follow-up and reported that the pruritus had decreased and the rash had slightly subsided. Therefore, the anti-allergy drug prednisone acetate tablets were discontinued, but the topical application of pruritus-relieving medication, i.e. hydrocortisone cream, was continued. After 10 days of continued treatment, the patient returned to the clinic and felt that the pruritus was significantly relieved, most of the red rash had subsided, and she was able to sleep quietly at night, indicating that the treatment was effective, and regular outpatient maternity examinations were recommended. After the effective treatment, the patient’s sleep quality and quality of life were greatly improved, and the patient was very satisfied with the treatment.
IV. Notes
Through active and effective treatment, the patient’s symptoms have been relieved, and we are truly happy for her, but in addition to the necessary treatment, daily care is also important.
1, pay attention to avoid eating foods that can easily trigger allergies during pregnancy, such as seafood, mangoes, etc., eat less spicy and stimulating, too greasy food, and a light, low-fat, easy-to-digest food-based diet during pregnancy, and drink more water.
2, do not wear tight-fitting, chemical fiber clothing, try to choose loose, cotton, clean clothing.
3, dry season, it is recommended that pregnant women limit the number of baths, no more than 3 times a week; avoid bathing for too long, and try not to exceed 10 minutes each time. When pregnant women take a bath, choose mild, non-irritating bathing products. After bathing, pay attention to skin moisturization, you can apply body lotion for pregnant women.
4.Regular maternity checkups, relax, try to do something you like, distract yourself, combine work and rest, and avoid overworking.
V. Personal insights
For pregnant women with allergies, discomfort such as itchy skin and red rash in the middle and late pregnancy is mostly seen in pruritus of pregnancy, but care should also be taken to exclude organic lesions such as intrahepatic cholestasis during pregnancy. Although pruritus in pregnancy does not have a direct and serious impact on the pregnant woman and the fetus, the long-term occurrence of severe itching can affect the quality of life of the pregnant woman and indirectly affect the growth and development of the fetus, so it should also be taken seriously and treated as soon as possible. In addition, pruritus in pregnancy is easy to improve through treatment, but it is difficult to cure completely during pregnancy, and will improve on its own after delivery.