What should a pregnant woman do if she has a sore throat and even swallowing saliva is painful?

Generally, throat pain in pregnant women—even when swallowing saliva—may be caused by increased mucosal sensitivity during pregnancy, consumption of spicy foods, acute pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, or reflux esophagitis. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly, identify the underlying cause, and then improve symptoms under a doctor's guidance through general management, medication, and other treatments. Specific analyses are as follows:

1. Increased mucosal sensitivity during pregnancy: Elevated estrogen levels during pregnancy cause dilation and increased fragility of blood vessels in the throat mucosa, making it easily irritated and painful, especially when swallowing saliva, which further stretches and aggravates the mucosa. Drinking warm or cool honey water can help moisturize the mucosa. Avoid speaking loudly, use a humidifier indoors to maintain humidity at 50%–60%, and reduce dryness and irritation of the mucosa.

2. Spicy or irritating diet: Consuming spicy foods such as chili peppers or hot pot can directly irritate and inflame the throat mucosa, causing severe pain during swallowing. Immediately stop eating irritating foods, switch to soft, cool, or lukewarm foods like porridge or steamed eggs, and rinse your mouth with warm water after meals to remove residual irritants from the throat.

3. Acute pharyngitis: Viral or bacterial infections cause congestion and swelling of the throat mucosa, leading to intense pain during swallowing due to friction of the inflamed tissue, often accompanied by dryness and coughing. Patients should follow medical advice to take medications such as Pudilan Xiaoyan Oral Liquid, Lanqin Oral Liquid, or Honeysuckle Granules. They should also rest adequately, avoid fatigue, and ensure sufficient fluid intake.

4. Acute tonsillitis: The tonsils become swollen due to infection (commonly by hemolytic streptococcus), possibly with pus spots on the surface. Swallowing causes compression of the inflamed tonsils, resulting in severe pain, often accompanied by fever. Patients should follow medical instructions to take medications such as amoxicillin capsules, cefaclor capsules, or compound chlorhexidine mouthwash for treatment.

5. Reflux esophagitis: Increased intra-abdominal pressure during pregnancy leads to gastroesophageal reflux, where stomach acid irritates the throat mucosa and causes pain, particularly noticeable when fasting. Patients should follow medical advice to take medications such as hydrotalcite chewable tablets, omeprazole enteric-coated capsules, or domperidone tablets to relieve symptoms.

In daily life, maintain a light and easily digestible diet, consume more vitamin C-rich fruits and vegetables to enhance immunity, avoid crowded places to prevent cross-infection, maintain regular sleep patterns without staying up late, and keep a positive mood to support recovery from throat discomfort.