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Original poster

How quick should oral steroids and amoxicillin for chest infection work?

31 replies

Wonderingwhyme · 11/12/2019 19:12

Ds is 12 and asthmatic. Went to gp Monday and was given oral steroids and amoxicillin for chest infection and his chest has been hurting an awful lot. In the past his sibling had the oral steroids and they worked within 48 hours and really helped.

I kept him off school yesterday and Monday but he went back today. He doesn’t have a temperature anymore but is still coughing an awful lot and he says the coughing hurts, feels abit rough and his chest still hurts. Should I take him back to GP tomorrow if his chest still hurts? Ventolin is temporarily helping? If he wasn’t asthmatic I wouldn’t be too concerned and would wait out the anti biotics but I’m not sure...?

OP posts:
Original poster
Wonderingwhyme · 11/12/2019 20:22

Anyone?

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SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 11/12/2019 20:30

Tricky one. It's good that he's not got a temperature any more, and that is probably a sign that the antibiotics are doing their job, but if he's still feeling rotten and you're worried I would take him back tomorrow. It's better to be safe than sorry, especially with the asthma.

bedtimestories · 11/12/2019 20:32

Does he have a brown inhaler?

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nocoolnamesleft · 11/12/2019 20:33

How much ventolin is he on, how often?

Original poster
Wonderingwhyme · 11/12/2019 20:34

He has a seretife inhaler. He’s used the ventolin three times today. He hasn’t used it for a very long time.

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Original poster
Wonderingwhyme · 11/12/2019 20:35

The three times were spaced out this morning, after lunch at school and just now.

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NewBeginnings321 · 11/12/2019 20:38

@Wonderingwhyme my advice would be to go back to the doctor to see if they can at least give him anything for the pain.

AnnaMagnani · 11/12/2019 20:40

Does he need his blue inhaler a bit more often seeing as he is still coughing a lot? It sounds like things are working but 3 times a day isn't that often at this stage. If he was an adult who could choose when to use it himself, he might well choose to use it more often. Especially if a lot of the coughing is at night.

And it is never wrong to go back to the GP and check if you are worried.

Original poster
Wonderingwhyme · 11/12/2019 20:45

He never needs to ventolin. He hasn’t used it since last winter. Hasn’t had a chest infection for quite a few years so I feel of touch. Need to go find the leaflet to see how many times he can use it a day as I can’t remember!

What would they give for pain though? He doesn’t want calpol, as it’s the cough that hurting and breathing that hurts? He is better than he was of course as no temperature, I’m just concerned his chest is still hurting but don’t know how normal that is em3 days into anti biotics.

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AnnaMagnani · 11/12/2019 20:50

His chest may be hurting if it is tight- so he needs blue inhaler or just from all the coughing. As you aren't sure and don't really know when to give it to him, I recommend you do get him checked out.

nocoolnamesleft · 11/12/2019 20:51

Sounds like he needs to be taking his Ventolin!!!!!

Obviously we cannot diagnose and treat over the internet, but here is a link to an example wheeze management plan:

www.cumbria.gov.uk/eLibrary/Content/Internet/537/17241/17246/17264/43067143738.PDF

nocoolnamesleft · 11/12/2019 20:53

And as Anna says, if you don't know, get him checked out. Chest infections in asthmatics can be very serious.

Original poster
Wonderingwhyme · 11/12/2019 20:55

He is taking his ventolin now, I’m saying his seretide inhaler has been great and he hasn’t needed ventolin since last winter.

Thanks I will read that link now.

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Original poster
Wonderingwhyme · 12/12/2019 05:53

He isn’t wheezy but coughing a lot. Any doctors about??

Would gp give another round of oral steroids?

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ItsAHardKn0ckLife1 · 12/12/2019 06:00

A had a nasty infection a few years ago (also asthmatic) and it took 4 rounds of different antibiotics and 4 rounds of steroids to clear it up. Was awful! No wheeze for me either but a nasty cough and felt like someone was sitting on my chest. Maybe he needs a different antibiotic?

Hope your DS feels better soon.

ItsAHardKn0ckLife1 · 12/12/2019 06:01

Should also point out my asthma was well controlled and hadn’t needed ventolin for a long time prior to the infection.

Fairylea · 12/12/2019 06:05

I have asthma and use a Seretide inhaler etc. If I get a chest infection it can take 2/3 weeks for it to properly clear, sometimes I need 2 or 3 different courses of antibiotics to really get rid of it. And I use my blue inhaler a lot. I’m also surprised he’s back at school so quickly, sounds like he needs more time off and more rest.

Original poster
Wonderingwhyme · 12/12/2019 06:06

Thanks, if he wasn’t asthmatic I’d get him to tough it out as I have seen a definite improvement (he’s eating more and no temperature and not as chesty) but I don’t know if the chest hurting should be re assessed. I can’t work out if it hurts because he’s coughing (perfectly reasonable) or if it’s his asthma if that makes sense?

His school attendance is low and he is a school dodger, otherwise I wouldn’t be as strict about it but of course asthma being controlled is most important.

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Original poster
Wonderingwhyme · 12/12/2019 06:08

Oh fairy I feel bad now!! He hates school! Yesterday only went back as was Christmas lunch at school but he didn’t go to the school office so I’d say he was ok... I hate feeling undecisive.

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Original poster
Wonderingwhyme · 12/12/2019 06:10

When you are talking about 2/3 courses of anti biotics do you mean 2/3 lots as in extra bottles or different type? He started amoxicillin Monday (3 doses)

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Original poster
Wonderingwhyme · 12/12/2019 07:01

Can they give a child another lot of the oral steroids? It’s predisolone (can’t spell it) z

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AnnaMagnani · 12/12/2019 07:34

The coughing may well be the asthma. I know we all cough when we have a chest infection, but asthmatics cough even more because their airways are closed up.

The best way to see this is when an asthmatic in the family and a non-asthmatic get the same infection. When me and my DH get a cold together, we have totally different experiences.

The normal course for me when I have steroids and antibiotics is Day 1 - taking reliever inhaler loads, about 8 times a day, day 2 - the same but feeling a lot better, day 3 - massive reduction in how often I am taking my reliever - a miracle has happened.

And by the end of the course I am still taking reliever a bit more often than I normally do but my chest mainly feels back to normal.

It's hard to work out over the internet but it does sound like you are describing a child who is getting better but still would like a bit more reliever than he is having. However the best way to know is to have this checked out in real life and to see your practice asthma nurse for some advice on the blue inhaler.

Howmanysleepsnow · 12/12/2019 07:47

If he’s getting better then it sounds like the antibiotics are working. He will need the full course to completely get rid of it even if symptoms end earlier. If he’s not better after that or if it gets worse again during the course, take him back to the gp. I’d keep him off school this week to rest and get plenty of fluids. My ds aged 2 was allowed as much salbutamol inhaler as he needed (sometimes 30+ times a day) so use it as needed.

Imnotaslimjim · 12/12/2019 07:51

I think I would have him checked over again to be safe. My youngest is asthmatic and it's scary when they get ill isn't it? So different to a non-asthmstic getting unwell.

Annamagnani is right, the practice asthma nurse is really good for advice when they ill, she will write up a management plan for him.

ifonly4 · 12/12/2019 08:20

Asthmatic or not, I'd at least keep him home this week. I've had two chest infections, which were pretty rotten. I was off for a week with both of them, and then struggled into work the following week with no energy, appetite. Does he feel he can take a full breath?

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