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Original poster

Please reassure me this is “just” tonsillitis (yucky pics)

42 replies

Iturnedmyfaceaway · 28/10/2023 11:40

Hi there,
student son has just sent me these. It hurts to swallow but he has his voice.
is this just tonsillitis? Can it wait till Monday?

our judgement is a bit “off” since we missed a life-threatening emergency last year, so having told him it’s all fine I’m just seeking reassurance here.

thank you in advance kind people.

OP posts:
Lifeinlists · 28/10/2023 11:45

Well I'm no expert but is there a possibility that it's Quinsy? Those pics look a bit nasty so I'd be advising him to see a doctor / 111 sooner rather than later.

Netcam · 28/10/2023 11:46

Lifeinlists · 28/10/2023 11:45

Well I'm no expert but is there a possibility that it's Quinsy? Those pics look a bit nasty so I'd be advising him to see a doctor / 111 sooner rather than later.

Agree with this

Oxborn · 28/10/2023 11:47

I think I’d say see someone today

Original poster
Iturnedmyfaceaway · 28/10/2023 11:53

Hmm, how? (He’s in Cambridge, a student)

OP posts:
Seeline · 28/10/2023 11:56

Walk - in
OOH GP
Phone 111

Original poster
Iturnedmyfaceaway · 28/10/2023 12:00

Thank you.
those links are to places outside Cambridge.
I’ll tell him to phone 111

OP posts:
Itwasamemo3 · 28/10/2023 12:01

Yes ,looks like pus on tonsils. Probably needs ABs .Poor chap .

OrlandointheWilderness · 28/10/2023 12:03

He should be seen - a sign of quinsy is uvula deviation and he has this. Get checked out just in case it needs AB - quinsy can be serious.

Original poster
Iturnedmyfaceaway · 28/10/2023 12:12

Is Quinsy an A&E job?

OP posts:
Hangryhen · 28/10/2023 12:16

I would go to A & E for suspected Quinsey

TomorrowsPrincess · 28/10/2023 12:19

Quinsy is absolutely an A& E job. It's where tonsillitis progresses into an abscess and can compromise the airways.
My daughter had this and it looked a lot worse than this tbh but it's always better to be safe than sorry..... he should definitely be seen as them tonsils look painful 😣

Original poster
Iturnedmyfaceaway · 28/10/2023 12:22

111 has referred him to a pharmacist to see him today. Can pharmacist prescribe antibiotics though?

OP posts:
Chgl92 · 28/10/2023 12:40

This looks like a bad case of bacterial tonsillitis - a very bad case!

He needs to see his GP or get an emergency appointment via 111 as soon as possible. You can even get phone appointments via 111 where a doctor can prescribe penicillin or amoxicillin over the phone. (Ed - actually, should be penicillin - could this be Glandular Fever? Amoxicillin does not respond well with glandular fever, which it could be esp if he is a fresher)

Once the tonsils 'kiss' or touch, it can obstruct breathing and not treating tonsillitis can lead to renal failure.

I don't think 111 should have passed this on to a pharmacist. Get him back on the phone to a medical professional stat - if it's 111, insist they get him an appointment, either in person or on the phone.

SirVixofVixHall · 28/10/2023 12:42

Agree with everyone, he needs antibiotics, that is a nasty looking infected throat.

Lifeinlists · 28/10/2023 12:50

Iturnedmyfaceaway · 28/10/2023 12:22

111 has referred him to a pharmacist to see him today. Can pharmacist prescribe antibiotics though?

If they don't I'd be encouraging him to get back to 111.

I know what it's like trying to support ill sons from a distance, but after I ended up diagnosing DS's appendicitis from my Cornish B&B hours after he'd been sent home from A&E (!), I also believe in trusting your instincts. Oh and being very firm when they refuse to ring 111 back.

I stress once again that I have no medical training except first aid but you do acquire a bit of incidental knowledge / experience over the years.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 28/10/2023 12:54

My sister was hospitalised with bad tonsillitis and quinsy when she was a student. It had got to the stage where she couldn't even swallow water, it would just dribble out. She ended up in a few days and on a drip. GP sent her to hospital. So yes, he needs seeing this weekend by a doctor. Not a pharmacist job.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 28/10/2023 12:57

Is he in halls? My son's also a Cambridge student. I think I'd advise him to speak to the porters at his halls. They seem to know everything and give good advice about the best place to seek help.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 28/10/2023 13:01

Iturnedmyfaceaway · 28/10/2023 12:22

111 has referred him to a pharmacist to see him today. Can pharmacist prescribe antibiotics though?

You obviously don't need a referral to a pharmacist, anyone can just rock up and talk to one so pretty pointless. 111 are good at getting you an emergency appt at a GP or out of hours place so he should persist with demanding one.

Unfortunately I don't think young people realise how bad things have got in terms of having to be really assertive about NHS health care. And you know what it's like yourself, when you're feeling really unwell like that you haven't got the energy to be assertive, you need someone to advocate for you. Poor lad, he must be miserable with it.

Spookymormonhelldream · 28/10/2023 13:12

There’s not much a pharmacy can do unless they have a prescription. Your son needs to get himself to an out of hours GP or A&E. Google will find the nearest walk in, or he needs to call 111 back and insist on a GP appointment, emphasising that he’s worried about his breathing.

Bendysnap · 28/10/2023 13:15

The pharmacy option is only viable if it’s one that can prescribe and if it’s not too far advanced : otherwise iv anti b’s will be needed. My ds was prescribed oral anti bs via a&e for bacterial tonsillitis but it was touch and go whether that would be a effective and whether iv anti bs were needed.

(All because we couldn’t get gp appt. Had phone consult with dr on 111 who sent us to a&e)

uncomfortablydumb53 · 28/10/2023 13:21

My DS had a throat like that Also at Uni and had to be admitted for IV Antibiotics
He couldn't swallow even saliva and was sort of snoring when he was awake as his airway was beginning to occlude
Definitely needs checking quite urgently and if no joy I'd tell him to present at A&E
Does he have a fever?
Forgot to add He had Quinsy

lalaloopyhead · 28/10/2023 13:21

How is he feeling on himself and is he still able to drink/swallow? DD was hospitalised when she started Uni with tonsillitis, she was quite unwell though and was dehydrated and had infected tonsils by the time we got an out of hours appointment and they sent her to A&E. Next time she had it, she went to walk in and they gave her antibiotics before it took hold too much.
Can't see the pharmacist will be able to do much, I think walk in centre of there is one might be more use.

lalaloopyhead · 28/10/2023 13:23

Wasn't quinsey in DDS case, but she still needed iv antibiotics.

Delphigirl · 28/10/2023 13:24

He needs abs and bloods to check for mononucleosis/glandular fever. I would walk into a&e if his dr surgery does not have an out if hours service.