To ask if A&E is overreacting.

You clearly do not have a medicine resistant child. You have a child who doesn't like it and can be persuaded.

The only thing that persuaded dd to take ab's aged five was when the A&E Dr explained that if she didn't, she'd have to stay in hospital and have a little needle put in her hand, and showed it to her, and have the medicine through a drip.

She promised the Dr if he allowed her home, to take the medicine. And I promised her a toyshop trip to chose whatever toy she wanted if she did.

It is not possible to get meds inside or keep them inside a totally resistant child. The only way we managed with calpol/nurofen was with suppositories until she was about three.

Fortunately from about 7 she learnt to swallow a tablet.

Try not to worry too much, I've had tonsillitis several times as an adult and never taken antibiotics. It will likely clear up by itself.

However, yes you can ask for tablets if you feel this is better. My DS had a bad ear infection a couple of winters ago at the time everyone was panicking about scarlet fever and after phoning 30 chemists we couldn't find the liquid antibiotics he needed - the GP prescribed tablets we crushed and mixed into honey on a spoon. Not ideal but he did get better. He was 2/3 years old.

So my boy is nearly 2 also hates the taste they’re all vile tbf I put his in a syringe and had another filled with calpol or ibuprofen so I’d sit him on my knee one arm around him holding his arm legs between my knees and syringe in a little at a time and had a drink handy to wash down taste but usually didn’t need it as I’d keep saying you get the other one after this, this will stop your mouth hurting get you better. Still doesn’t like it but after 4 times he’s got used to it. Phen V is not as bad as the clarithromycin I think but he’s had both twice. Don’t give after food I got puked on a couple of times as it made him gag x

My DC5 was on penicillin and had a 40+ degree fever for a week before the GP sent us to A&E and even then we were home after a few hours because the findings were "infection" and we were advised to keep taking antibiotics.

It doesn't always have to be a catastrophe. Try not to worry.

Can you use a syringe like the calpol one, squirt it straight down? She could even do it herself.

Sympathy OP, I have an autistic DD who had tonsillitis around 30 times and quinsy 3 times from age 2-14 when we finally got the tonsils removed. Getting her to take antibiotics was a nightmare when she was younger. She ended up in hospital twice as a result, once with patronising medical staff telling me and DH that there were 2 of us and one teeny tiny 3 YO DD and that we'd allowed the illness to progress by failing to get her to take the medication. I have never felt more vindicated than when it took 3 medical staff together to try and get her to take the medicine and they failed. All I can say is hang in there, hopefully her system will fight it off soon. Also it's a bit niche but in case it would help, DD liked ketchup so we would mix her meds in a teaspoon of that and it masked the taste.

I’m not sure how the antibiotics she is on works specifically but you will need to explain the issues clearly to the doctor and pharmacy as some medications cannot be crushed or mixed with food/drinks. Doing so can affect their ability to work correctly.

if the taste is really bitter you don’t be able to hide it (also have an autistic son). Depending on her understanding you could try first this then big reward. That might work with my son now (grown up) but not at 5. He now has tablets in yoghurts which has been a game changer. But they won’t help you now.

if you are worried and she isn’t improving or you can’t get medication into her go back.

Yes, primary infection can be very severe. My son had eczema herpeticum (herpes infected eczema) which can be fatal. Initially misdiagnosed as chickenpox

Haven’t read whole thread but a different son has been admitted twice to hospital with tonsillitis - as a young adult, not even a child . It can be nasty. There are very well established treatment pathways so if you are worried or think she might be getting dehydrated it’s not an overreaction to get her checked at A&E.

You need to force her to take her medicine.
You can ask for liquid or you can usually make it yourself with their instructions.

Hope you can relax a bit now, it’s totally normal to worry and I think with the things we hear about sepsis it’s totally reasonable to stress out and think of A&E when you see certain symptoms and a high temp is dangerous anyway. Ignore the negative nellys best wishes to your little one

It's on its knees because of the government!

How dare you tell people that they shouldn't be using the NHS when they are understandably anxious about their poorly child.

We should be able to get fast and good healthcare. We shouldn't be questioning if we're over reacting. We should be able to get help and advice if we want it.

We pay for this!!

It's people like you who make others question their gut instinct, and where can that lead us? Even more pressure on the NHS? Ultimately, it can mean death.

We shouldn't be on our deathbeds before we think that we're unwell enough to see a doctor.

How rude.

Op, I hope your daughter is feeling much better today.

are you giving her calpol / nurofen / both?

Plus what is her actually temperature? “Feeling hot” could be anything, better to actually measure.

What's wrong with you?

LOLno.

What is wrong with you?!

Ah - Tory voter?

If it helps at all, I had absolutely awful tonsillitis a couple of years ago (over Christmas and couldn't eat due to the pain and the year before I was ill with something else, probably covid, and couldn't taste anything so I was really annoyed!) and was prescribed antibiotics for 5 days. They didn't seem to be doing much until literally the 4th or 5th day when it got slightly better. I was fully prepared to go to the doctor on day 6 but it suddenly got much better. I hope your little one, and you, feel better soon 💗

I don't need your permission love.