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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think actually, they should give IV antibiotics to my (likely) autistic child?

254 replies

MrSpock · 29/07/2018 20:40

Ended up in A&E with DS1, who’s 3, after his temperature went to 40.1 at 3am a few nights ago and he was not himself. He had recently had grommets and he’s got an ear infection.

Prescribed amoxicillin.

This would be fine, except DS1 is being assessed for autism and has sensory issues. He will not take antibiotics. It’s not a simple job of refusing, it’s a whole kicking, screaming, biting affair and it takes two adults an hour to administer it. He had a panic attack last time Sad and I’ve never seen him so frightened. I can’t explain how severe it is, it doesn’t sound bad written down but it is.

I rang the department and asked for them to admit him and administer IV. He’s had cannulas before and isn’t anywhere near as bad with them, but they said no and told me to “hold him down and be cruel to be kind” Hmm

DS1 thinks he’s being tortured. All day today he’s hid in a corner, bit me, kicked me, and his speech which has been coming on was replaced by screams all day. He’s cried constantly and gestured for me to go away even when not giving the medicine. Sad he won’t let me, his dad, my mum or my dad anywhere near him and has had what was effectively an all day meltdown.

Am I wrong for thinking they should just admit him and treat him?! Autistic kids don’t respond the way NT kids do. Any advice would be lovely :(

OP posts:
TrueLiesAndAll · 29/07/2018 20:59

Problem is just because something worked ok once doesn’t mean it will be the same next time. We have that scenario a lot

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 29/07/2018 20:59

Coconut collaborative make some really rich strong choc pots that are dairy free and very chocolatey.

Other than that my only advice is to get it done as quickly as possibly so wrap, and use a syringe to squirt it in. Also explain why you are doing it, and administer chocolate or.similar bribe after.

Tessliketrees · 29/07/2018 21:00

You don't have to be an inpatient to have IV ABs.

Community team can do it, at least where I live. I'm sure it's not just my area as it's one of the ways they are trying to reduce hospital admission times.

grasspigeons · 29/07/2018 21:00

can the doctor prescribe a different but nicer tasting anti biotic

we were given one that was foul and had the whole pinning down thing - so I rang the doctors and asked what else they could offer. He got a much nicer tasting one that was far easier to disguise.

twinkletoedelephant · 29/07/2018 21:00

Would he do it himself?

We use to put it in the 'squirter' and then he had a choice either we would pin him down and do it or he would have control and do it .

Original poster
MrSpock · 29/07/2018 21:01

Coconut collaborative make some really rich strong choc pots that are dairy free and very chocolatey.

I’ll have a look for these. I reckon if I could disguise it well enough and convince him to try it, he might accept it.

OP posts:
Icklepickle101 · 29/07/2018 21:01

Even when my DS was admitted they wouldn’t give ABs via IV and every dose involved us going to a side room with the nurse and a HCA and holding him down with a towel round his arms while he begged me to stop. It was horrendous but it got the job done and he’s forgotten about it now.

arethereanyleftatall · 29/07/2018 21:01

I would be questioning whether he really needs antibiotics here. A temp of 40 is just bodies way of dealing isn't it, and isn't a problem in itself? I remember dd1 wa often 40/41 when poorly and we just got used to it. Is the trauma of administering worth it?

Original poster
MrSpock · 29/07/2018 21:02

Would he do it himself?

We use to put it in the 'squirter' and then he had a choice either we would pin him down and do it or he would have control and do it .

We tried that and he tried to give it to DP instead, which was quite cute but didn’t get us any closer to getting the medicine in him

OP posts:
Original poster
MrSpock · 29/07/2018 21:03

I would be questioning whether he really needs antibiotics here. A temp of 40 is just bodies way of dealing isn't it, and isn't a problem in itself? I remember dd1 wa often 40/41 when poorly and we just got used to it. Is the trauma of administering worth it?

My mum said this. She’s a nurse and she said she wouldn’t give antibiotics in this case and she’d focus on fluids, hydration and keeping him comfortable.

I just don’t want him to get ill.

OP posts:
ProudThrilledHappy · 29/07/2018 21:05

To be honest pinning him down to get an IV in will probably be just as traumatic for him.

Is there any kind of favourite food he can be bribed with? You really have my sympathy as my ds is also a nightmare to get medication into Flowers

RalphRacoon · 29/07/2018 21:07

I've got a 13 year old who has autism and needs blood tests. Her school pead recommended getting the hospital play therapist sorted.

glueandstick · 29/07/2018 21:07

I’d be tempted to focus on fluids and rest for 24 hours so long as he isn’t getting any worse. It sounds horribly stressful. My toffee is NT and it was a fucking nightmare to get any cooperation when she decided she wasn’t going to do it. I can only imagine how many times worse it is for you.

LadyPeacock · 29/07/2018 21:08

The only way I could get him to take them was to swaddle him in a bath sheet (so his arms were tucked in) straddle him (so pinning him and his arms in the towel down) and using a calool syringe, use one hand to hold his face and the other to get the syringe in down the side of his cheek (teeth would be tightly clenched) and squeeze slowly but steadily do that he didn’t choke.

We did exactly this. OP as you only say you have effectively held his arms and legs, are you being as decisive as this?

I wonder if your DS's anxiety is being fed by your own (understandable) distress? If you sweep in very calmly, with a plan, execute swaddle-and-syringe with no hesitation or distressed expressions and then are super breezy afterwards he may cope better? Not easy I know, but it may help him not to panic.

monkey42 · 29/07/2018 21:08

Hmm tricky and you have my sympathy
I would suggest you do your best not to show any anxiety yourself, or distress at the situation, and try to do lots of positive chat about how it will get him better? I don't mean that to sound trite. I am a medic (adults these days) and I think the main difference between parents and medics/ nurses is that the latter are totally convinced of the need and don't get emotional if the child doesn't like it. Certainly that's how I was with my kids, I think it was easier to be determined.
Iv isn't a good answer if oral can be given, they have their own issues with pain, line infections etc. Oral is much much safer, best of luck

Poodletip · 29/07/2018 21:08

My ASD DD had some disgusting ABs at that age. We had to pin her down to get them in but then every time she had them we immediately gave her a sweet "to take the taste away". After a couple of days of that she stopped fighting but it was really awful while she did.

monkey42 · 29/07/2018 21:09

Cross post with lady peacock there!

kaytee87 · 29/07/2018 21:09

I'm not sure I'd bother giving him the antibiotics tbh. What's his temperature like now?
He'll probably fight off the infection himself and this stress and refusing his milk now won't help. I'd let him see you throw them in the bin.

elliejjtiny · 29/07/2018 21:09

I use the "giving him the squirter" method with my 10 year old who has SPD. However this only works at the beginning, not at the stage you're at where he is refusing food. I think it is a case of iv antibiotics or no antibiotics at this stage.

arethereanyleftatall · 29/07/2018 21:09

When my dc are poorly, I have to try really really hard to keep it in perspective, as they're so very precious aren't they. So, I try to imagine how worried I'd be if I had the same symptoms. And, mostly, I'd just think 'I feel shit today' and get on with my life.
Summary - I wouldn't give him the antibs. Disclaimer - I'm not a doctor.

Original poster
MrSpock · 29/07/2018 21:10

I wonder if your DS's anxiety is being fed by your own (understandable) distress? If you sweep in very calmly, with a plan, execute swaddle-and-syringe with no hesitation or distressed expressions and then are super breezy afterwards he may cope better? Not easy I know, but it may help him not to panic.

I’m trying to be decisive, but I’m 16 weeks pregnant so getting a hold of him is fairly awkward and I’m more careful than normal as I don’t want him kicking my stomach, so I’m not as “strong” as normal.

I haven’t tried swaddling, we just held his limbs but he hates that :(

OP posts:
headhurtstoomuch · 29/07/2018 21:12

A trick I was taught by a nurse when my DS refused medication and had to be regularly pinned down was to use a syringe. Once you'd actually managed to get the medicine into his mouth gently blow on his face as it makes them swallow. Odd as it sounds it worked for us. Though pinning him down was hideous.

Original poster
MrSpock · 29/07/2018 21:12

His temp is 37 last time I checked, and it hasn’t spiked up. He doesn’t seem poorly, just incredibly upset by the events. He’s asleep now, I will see how he is tomorrow. If he seems well and isn’t hot, I don’t think I’ll give them.

If he seems unwell, I’ll try swaddling and the chocolate dairy free coconut pots. Thanks

OP posts:
Chinnyreckoning · 29/07/2018 21:14

2 adults an hour to administer the dose?! Did I read that correctly? If so you've pussy footed about and ramped the anxiety and created the panic attacks. It takes a few seconds to safely hold a 3 year old and make them take medicine. Use a towel if needed. Squirt at the back of the throat. Hold nose if needed. Immediately offer sweet. Job done.
Yes it's traumatic for a few seconds but its in the child's best interests.

I'm sorry but I think you'd exaccerbated the whole thing by not being decisive.

kaytee87 · 29/07/2018 21:14

Good idea op, I bet he doesn't need them.

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