To not give him the antibiotics?

[Some0ne]

DS is 5 months and has had a cold for a few weeks (we've all had it). On Wednesday he started having temperatures, was sleeping a lot and not eating much. Yesterday he was the same and, worried about possible dehydration, we brought him to the doctor, who said he had a very sore looking throat and prescribed antibiotics.

We last gave him Calpol at 7 last night (14 hours ago) and his temperature hasn't gone up again since. We've been putting Bonjela on his dodis before feeds and he's eating normally. He's in good form and back to staying awake for a couple of hours between naps.

We didn't get to the chemist in time to start his antibiotics last night, and he's so improved today that I'm reluctant to. I discussed it with DH and he agrees that we should wait and see how he copes without them. Our GP prefers not to give kids antibiotics unless absolutely necessary, to let their immune systems develop, so I know he'd agree (we've had this conversation with him before!). And DD always has an upset tummy when she's on antibiotics and I don't want to do that to DS, who has very bad reflux and often struggles to eat anyway.

My mum has texted pointing out that the poor child is probably in a lot of pain and I should really give him the antibiotics. She obviously thinks I'm being very heartless.

AIBU?

Call your GP and ask?

I doubt the doctor would have prescribed ABs unless they thought it was warranted, personally I would give them.

But if you are convinced that your own GP wouldn't have prescribed them, then take your ds to see them and find out.

You are his mum and you are the one who would be best to judge if he is in pain. I think you are right to hold off on the AB's if there is a big improvement.

I would ask.

If your GP doesn't like giving AB for no reason and he HAS given them in this case I would probably give him them.

If it was a GP who prescribed them willy nilly then I would
Not

The GP prescribed them because DS was having temperatures, was sleeping a lot and wasn't eating.

Today he's not having temperatures, is sleeping as little as normal and is eating normally.

I'm not a Gp so would suggest a call there first. However, what sort of infection is it? If its viral then antibiotics wouldn't work anyway. My son was plagued with tonsilitis and ear infections as a baby and toddler - sometimes he needed antibiotics to clear it up, other times calpol and lots of water got him through.
Don't second guess though, call the GP!
Hoep your DS feels better soon

Phone and ask.

I would give them, speaking from bitter experience - DS2 has just finished his 2nd lot of ABs. After the first course he seemed a lot better but I still didnt think he was 100%. Left it a few days, took him back and the infection (ear) was, in the docs word, "raging"

The GP didn't prescribe them because he is having temperatures and is sleeping a lot and not eating. The GP prescribed them because there is an infection.

Your ds may or may not be fighting the infection off himself, but GPs don't give babies ABs without good reason.

I probably wouldn't give them either, much better in the long run for their immune system to fight it off and save the antibiotics for when they're really needed. Plus if he's uncomfortable then calpol will sort that.

But I probably would phone and ask, the gp might want to see him again to check if the sore throat is improved

Call the surgery and ask. A doctor will call you back. That way, if you are wrong and you end up with a worse bacterial infection (which is possible) you don't look like a parent who ignores doctors. That's not a good look.

My DS had an ear infection and was prescribed AB but when I questioned the doctor over giving them so young, she said if I was very against it I could take the prescription anyway, see how he went over a few days and if it hadn't cleared up on its own then give them. Maybe you could do that, if he seem's to be better he might be fighting it himself.

But my DS was not as young as yours so I suppose it depends how strongly you are against them.

I rang, he said wait and see, it might just have been a virus that has run it's course, and it his temperature goes up again I can start them.

When my DS gets ear and throat infections, which he does a lot, his temp always goes up in the afternoon/evening.....wait and see how your DS is later

That's the pattern here too, with both kids, but in this case I think we're in the clear - he last had a slightly raised temp at 7 last night. I gave him Calpol and by 10 it was down, and it stayed down all night, unlike the previous two nights.

And he's in really good form, he's dancing away in his Jumperoo at the moment, which he wouldn't have had the energy for yesterday, and he's full of chat and giggles.

Don't they just always do that, have you worried to death one day then right as rain the next! Glad to hear he's feeling better.

I wouldn't give ABs if he appears to be on the mend especially if he suffers from tummy trouble usually. Coughs and colds do tend to run their course without needing any intervention.

My DS, 1 yr, has had about 4 scripts for ABs that I've accepted 'just in case' but never ended up giving to him. Some doctors are very pro ABs, a couple are very anti, you just have to make up your own mind.

My DP is a pharmacist is somewhat anti AB but is compliant with most other things.