Toddler prescribed antibiotics

[beewritesx]

My 2-year-old had a sickness bug last week that he probably picked up from nursery. He recovered the next day but I think he was scared to eat as when we tried giving him toast the day before, he was sick! The day before last he was screaming uncontrollably saying he was hungry, but when I tried giving him food he didn't want it and screamed to go in the car instead. I had hours of this and being worried he couldn't communicate if he was in pain, I took him to the doctor. I told them that I was worried he might have a UTI, but they didn't pick up a high temperature and said his blood sugar was okay. Anyway, they prescribed antibiotics as a precaution and while we were waiting for Boots to do his prescription I tried giving him a vegan sausage roll from Gregg's. He was apprehensive at first then devoured it 😂 Afterwards, he was like a different child! The following day, he was fine as well. The past two days he's been (mostly) in a brilliant mood so I held off giving him antibiotics as he seems fine and I've always been told to only give antibiotics when necessary as they're not great for your gut (gives DS runny poo) and you can become immune to them (I just don't want to overmedicate my child if he seems well).

Anyway, DH came back from work today and asked me if I had given him antibiotics and I said not yet as he's been fine, so I'm unsure now. He basically shouted at me that I'm not a doctor and why hasn't he had them yet, etc? I told him that he's been fine so I was wary about giving them to him in case he gets an upset stomach but he carried on shouting. I told him not to speak to me like me that and I'm ashamed to say I swore at him in front of DS.

Was i being unreasonable?

Shouting and swearing in front of a child is not acceptable.
I would have held off on the antibiotics too.

Have you started the course of antibiotics? If you have you need to finish it, if not I'd hang fire to see if LO improves.

You are right and your partner is a dick.

His attitude is the reason why there are so many antibiotic resistant bugs.

Your child sounds absolutely fine. Why give strong medications for no reason?

I agree it's not acceptable. I'm ashamed of swearing at him in front of my child!

I’d have done exactly the same. I’m really surprised the GP gave you them to be honest.
Aside from that your husband can disagree with your decision but he certainly doesn’t get to shout at you about it!

YANBU about the antibiotics, you are being very sensible and responsible.

Dont feel too bad about the swearing, you were clearly goaded by your husband's behaviour towards you.

I would have no qualms about swearing at anyone who kept shouting at me!

No not yet

Of course you were right, I would've sworn at him too.

Wow the power of a Gregg's vegan sausage roll eh?

I would have given the antibiotics because they had been prescribed on your sons clinical presentation. I do not feel non medical experts should make clinical decisions no matter how well intended as this is what caused antimicrobial resistance. Your husband is totally wrong to shout at you though as that really doesn’t help anything

I would follow up with your doctor so you have some clarity regarding your decision. This may also help resolve the disagreement with your husband.

For future reference, when I have doubts about things like antibiotics I have learned to ask the doctor for specific instructions about how to make the decision. For example, how long can you hold off before you decide whether to start the prescription, and what sort of symptoms will tell you whether to start the prescription. In my own words, I then repeat the instructions given by the doctor back to him/her, and then I write them down. I like to get very clear instructions about what I should do if I see various symptoms, especially for small children, who can be cranky because they feel sick or just because it's Tuesday.

If they were prescribed 'as a precaution' - which is inappropriate and shouldn't be done anymore - you're not wrong to not give him them. If he prescribed them because your DS needs them that's one thing but it sounds like the doctor didn't know what to say and possibly wanted an 'easy life' so just prescribed something.

I wouldn't have given them to him either.

I would have done the same. They were clearly given as a precaution. If you called the Dr and said that he had just discovered the healing power of Gregg's and seemed fine, I bet they would have agreed with your judgement to hold off.

My DS was prescribed lactulose. The pain went, no problems with toilet and he was gagging over it. Do I just blindly keep pouring it down his throat when he doesn't need it and it's making him gag? Or do I use my COMMON SENSE!? I would call the Dr but that's a waste of his time (and mine when it takes over an hour just to get through to reception).

I would call the Dr but that's a waste of his time (and mine when it takes over an hour just to get through to reception).

Only an hour? Ours takes several days of trying