Aibu in thinking ds should have gotten antiobiotics

[Crazycrazylady]

Just wanted to see what ever one else thinks..
2 weeks ago ds3 who is 5 got some sort of a tummy bug/virus thing. High temperatures , vomiting and diarrhea. He was quiet unwell with it which is unlike him as he is never sick. I took him the doctor who said he was very unwell and gave me anti nausea tablets and said to bring him back in the morning if he didn't improve . He had a good night and his temp stayed down so I was like brilliant. Done and dusted. Except it wasn't after about three days he started getting sick most days again and has explosive very (tmi) oddly coloured( almost white) diarrhea which doctor google informs me is a sign of bacterial infection. He is lethargic and eating nothing so I took him back to doctor yesterday who didn't really say much and said to stop all medication (Callie etc for tummy pain) and to bring him back in a couple of days .. I mentioned the pop and he agreed it could be a sign but would have to send poo away on Monday next to see if that was the case before he'd prescribe them. He's had another shocking night and now I'm going to have to wait unti at Least Wednesday of next week when his results are back before he will get any help. These two visits were his second and third visits to the doctor in his life and he has never had antibiotics. Aibu in thinking that there would have not been a lot of harm in prescribing antibiotics even it turns out not to be bacterial.. maybe iabu but he's exhausted and white and it doesn't appear to be going away on its own.

[Crazycrazylady]

Sorry for essay ... just feel a bit ignored by doctor.

[Wolfiefan]

Antibiotic resistance is a massive problem.
YANBU to go back to the GP if you’re worried but YABU to rely on Google for medical advice and insist on antibiotics.

[GookledyGobb]

Aibu in thinking that there would have not been a lot of harm in prescribing antibiotics even it turns out not to be bacterial

Yes. Antibiotic resistance

[Confusedbeetle]

unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics is a bad thing

[geekone]

YABVU yes there is a lot of harm in prescribing antibiotics unnecessarily. Look up the antibiotic crisis we are having. They will not prescribe him antibiotics or shouldn’t until they have taken a poop sample and tested it. Then they would need to give him the correct type of antibiotic to ensure that it cures the infection and does not make it worse.
Antibiotic are not a magic wand.

[TaraBoomdieh]

“Aibu in thinking that there would have not been a lot of harm in prescribing antibiotics even it turns out not to be bacterial.”

Yes, you are. There’s potentially massive harm to everyone in inappropriate use.

[FrowningFlamingo]

YABVU

[FrowningFlamingo]

Especially as the commonest side effect of antibiotics is diarrhoea...

[ScarletBitch]

For goodness sake this is a 5 year old child so in this instance I think the GP should of done a lot more than fob her off.

[TheFaerieQueene]

I don’t understand why you would want to give your child AB’s unless absolutely necessary. They aren’t a benign supplement but a chemically active drug that shouldn’t be taken unless there is a definite medical need.

[ThatFalseEquivalenceTho]

YABVU.

This is one of the reasons antibiotic resistance is so rife and why we are on the verge of going back to pre-antibiotic age with nothing being treatable.

[sproutsandparsnips]

Even bacterial gastroenteritis is often self limiting so antibiotics are a last resort. If he is still unwell when the stool sample comes back antibiotics can be tailored to the specific bacteria, as not all work for every infection. If it is viral antibiotics may worsen symptoms as pp says.

[TeddyIsaHe]

I mean, if you’re not worried about him possibly contracting a antibiotic-resistant infection in the future which cannot be treated then sure! Stuff him full of antibiotics for anything and everything.

Meanwhile in the real world...

[geekone]

@ScarletBitch no one is disputing that but giving out antibiotics maybe the wrong kind and sending the OP on her merry way would also be fobbing her off and worse be dangerous and the Op would have been happy. The DC should have had a stool sample taken of the problem has been persistent and over 5 days.

[SnowdropsiUnderTrees]

Antibiotics are terrible for diarrhoea. The body is sorting it itself by eliminating the infection in the firm of diarrhoea. Antibiotics are just a recipe for upsetting the bacterial flora in the gut and making things worse.

[geekone]

Sorry I see poop sample has been taken.

[sallysparrow157]

Quite apart from the antibiotic resistance issue, antibiotics may well make him worse - diarrhoea is a very common side effect of most antibiotics and they can wipe out normal gut bacteria which can lead to problems too.
Temporary lactose intolerance due to the viral gastroenteritis is pretty common and if this is the case it will sort itself out as the body gets back to normal, but this is something that can be discussed with your GP on Monday

[Hotterthanahotthing]

YABVU
Make sure he has plenty to drink and to eat as usual.Wait for the stool sample .

[Bambamber]

YANBU for being worried.

YABU to expect antibiotics straight away. Even bacterial infections can resolve on their own. But more importantly if the poo sample comes back with bacteria, they will test it to see which specific antibiotics will work so they can prescribe the right ones. Many bacteria are resistant to certain Antibiotics so it's important to use the right ones

[memorial]

[Dvg]

YABU antibiotics are really bad for you and should only be taken when absolutely necessary.

[callmeadoctor]

Eh? Antibiotics are really bad for you? Thats an interesting statement!

[callmeadoctor]

I wonder why vets dish them out so easily, do pets become resistant too (Serious question as I have often wondered why my pet gets them with no questions) Any vets on here?

[mumwon]

ask chemist for advice on hydration mixes which you add to water - they have correct mix of salt & sugar & taste pleasant (so easy for you to give dc & not dangerous) re antibiotics - not only is there the chance its a wrong type which wont help it can have unpleasant side effects - including increasing (as others have said) tummy upset. However if you are the least bit worried about dc being very lethargic & not drinking or eating or if the stop urine - 0r any sign of rash that wont go away when you press please go to a & e

[mumwon]

doh! if he stops passing urine (sorry) is he complaining of pain?