Are these the symptoms of a chest infection?

[Rhubarb]

I'm always questioning doctors I know, but they always seem too keen to prescribe anti-biotics to children.

dd has been ill since Friday. Very lethargic, temperature (but not too high), headaches, loss of appetite. She didn't have a cold prior to this and doesn't seem to have cold symptoms. She does have a cough but not a prominent one, she does not make a sound when breathing, she is not phlegmy.

dh took her to the docs today and he said she had a secondary chest infection and prescribed anti-biotics that dh has now started her on. But he didn't test her and her symptoms are not convincing me that he is right.

What do you think?

[giraffeski]

Message withdrawn

[MerlinsBeard]

sounds like my boys last week, they have chicken pox now

[SoupDragon]

I can't say if it is a chest infection or not but when DS1 had pneumonia he did not have a cough (and one never developed), didn't have any cold symptoms, wasn't phlegmy and didn't have any sounds when breathing. He most definitely had a chest infection though.

[Rhubarb]

Hmmm, I guess so then. He did listen to her chest apparently.

I just wish they would swab more as if it is a viral infection then the abs will do nothing.

She seems to be getting worse everyday

[MerlinsBeard]

can u take her back 2mo? maybe to a different dr?

[McDreamy]

I would be very happy with that diagnosis. I think the signs and symptoms plus the doctors findings on the chest examination point to a chest infection (he must have heard noise lower down which indicates infection).

Don't see a problem Rhubarb, I would expect to see an improvement within 48 hours. Hope she gets better soon

[Rhubarb]

Thanks guys. It's just that when we were in France they dished out abs like sweets and I was forever questioning them and paying for separate testing that often proved me right and them wrong!

But on this occasion the doctor is probably right and I'll keep her on the abs.

I can't take her back unfortunately as I'm working tomorrow, dh is looking after her. Again it's a control thing, I would have asked more questions etc and I think he is just happy to get a prescription and go.

[SoupDragon]

How is she today?

[Rhubarb]

Aww thanks Soupy!
She's a little better today so I have to concede that the abs are probably a good thing in this case. I was very worried about her last night and this morning. She was coughing all last night and again she didn't want to get out of bed this morning, she just lay there looking very pale and frail. I had a meeting 50 miles away and I didn't want to leave her

But dh said that she's been ok and although she has eaten next to nothing still, she is at least sitting up and talking a little which is a huge improvement.

[SoupDragon]

Hopefully she's better again today - I remember DS1 being noticably better after 24 hours of ABs and pretty much better after 48.