To ask if A&E is overreacting.

This post is uncalled for and really you should just mind your own business. The NHS is on its knees because of deliberate underfunding by the Tories and Brexit, not people worried about their 5 year old with strep tonsillitis!

It’s perfectly valid for OP to be concerned. FWIW when my then 5 y o had scarlet fever, we took her to A&E on a Sunday evening, she was so ill; and they were very happy for us to bring her in.

I understand OP. I also suffered badly with health anxiety with my DD after an incident at 3.
She had pneumonia but to get her diagnosed, I went to GP twice and A&E twice, until an urgent treatment center doctor (which I was triaged there because the A&E nurse thought I was over- reacting on my 2nd attempt to A&E) who found out my DD was indeed very poorly and called A&E doctor to have her re-examined. First time in my life, I thought I was going to lost her...since then I am always anxious when my DD got sick.

After that horrible experience, we continued to visit pediatric A&E a couple of times due to various illnesses. I have to clarify, I loathe going to A&E. I don't take my feverish DD to GP until something looks wrong. And I have always endured and tried to calm my anxiety until I broke down in tears and decided to pay A&E a visit and of which , probably it's my instinct driving - every time we went DD indeed needed A&E treatment except once due to under diagnosed Asthma.

So, I would say, trust your instincts.You know your child the best.

I can also confidently say at pediatric A&E, there are far more time-wasters than you would expect, many parents are bringing in children who are eating McDonald's, running around, actively playing mobile games or computer games, or kept talking and whining about boredom...while mine was very quiet, tired, sleepy and not interested in anything. So, don't worry too much about being labeled.

And you can always call 111 for an advice, chance is that they may decide to give you a doctor call back. I once went to urgent treatment center due to a doctor's advice and got DD treated in time, some 111 doctors are fab.

As long as she's making steady progress, I wouldn't take her to A and E or to the GP.

If she can drink, go to the toilet, walk/dance around and sleep, she'll be fine.

I think you would sense if something more sinister was happening.

For goodness sake, stop projecting your health anxiety onto your child. The NHS is on its knees FGS.

Penicillin deals with scarlet fever, if you are thinking sepsis, you'd better go to A&E asap.

Both of those alone can cause a high temp btw if you’re giving paracetamol and it’s not coming down I’d take her to get checked better safe than sorry but otherwise if it does reduce keep giving the regular doses you can following the instructions and hopefully it’ll pass. Fingers crossed for you both!

What is her temp?

If she’s responding to the antibiotics, which it sounds like she is because she’s eating, drinking and dancing around then what makes you think she needs A&E? Apart from scaring yourself with googling? If she is presenting an improving picture then that’s a sign she’s responding to treatment. Keep an eye on her, regular antipyrexials if she’s feverish, fluids and if she carries on improving she’ll be better in no time and if she gets worse then seek help.

Worrying about your child is not over reacting. My little one is also teething, he’s just finished a 5 day course of antibiotics the swab showed no strep but he had pus at back of throat his nose and eyes both stopped running after 2 days didn’t get a temp until after I’d had him at the docs (had only taken 3 doses)we gave paracetamol for a couple of days that helped with pain and temp but gave antibiotics morning and night with another syringe of ibuprofen straight after taking it as he too despised and gagged at the taste. I was also told that for first yr of any nursery/school new start they’re going to be sick more often than not (4th time this year) and ENT wouldn’t even look until it’s 6 times in a year(this is 4th) my hint is learn the signs, for me it was when his eye gunked up, see something familiar just look in their mouth using natural light tilt their head back. I’ve seen when it’s not gone and also when it clearly had. Weirdly the drooling stopped with the meds so I think his amber bracelet is helping him we’ve a little cross cutter who does 4 at a time, I’d suggest ordering a bracelet if there are more teeth to come do need to be worn a while before they take effect x

She’s eating and drinking and has been dancing around…. Let her sleep and see how she is tomorrow. By then antibiotics should be properly kicking in

Tonsillitis always makes me feel like I'm dying for at least 2 or 3 days. Ibuprofen is only pain relief that helps me but not sure of age

also let her sleep we have had temperatures on and off for 4 weeks weakness of the body emotional too!

my family oof 4 are all on antibiotics with suspected tonsilitius my son 8 is on pen V 2nd day his been off his food but light snacks have gone down, the rest of us on amoxcycillion h.e u spell that. as long as she is having fluids and acting reasonably normal then should be ok. dont go too ane as yoou will pick up this vile 4-5 week viral going round we are on our 4th week now and still got symptoms with anti b's. my 3 year old sounds the same as yours but she is drinking her medicine happily maybe giving it with the cola could not be the best as cola is quite hard on the tummy anyway my son hates the taste but its best to persuade the best you can with drinking the medicine from the bottle without mixing?

I think it would be a good idea to take her to OOHs and ask if a swab could be done to find out what the bug is. Then they will know if that antibiotic works on it.

My DS had scarlet fever and it went on for a long time and got really bad. The antibiotic worked extremely quickly though.

I’m no doctor but whenever my children have been ill with things like this the medical advice i have had is to not worry too much about food, they can survive a few days without much food, but fluids are obviously important. What about ice lollies to hopefully soothe her throat but also get fluids in.
aside from that i’d just trust your gut, maybe see how she is over the next 24 hours and get an OOH appt if you don’t think she is getting better.

So shes eating and drinking and on a course of antibiotics, she really doesnt need A&E shes more likely to catch something

I would take her in if she's the same in the morning or worsens overnight. Worst case you have a long wait and some reassurance, best case they work out she needs something else and she recovers quicker.
Hopefully after some sleep she'll be a bit better in the morning.

I would take her in. I had strep before Xmas and was given a 5 day course of antibiotics and they didn’t work - I needed a further 10 day course to stop it. Could she have a rash in her mouth on top of the tonsillitis making her want to keep her mouth shut? Good luck - strep is rough