Antibiotics for Tonsillitis?

[Ohsofedupwiththis]

DS is quite poorly this weekend with occasional perk up when ibuprofen has well and truly kicked in.

Tonsils covered in white, high fever (been over 38.5 most of day with alternating calpol and nurofen). Calpol not doing a lot. Nurofen giving him a couple of hours relief but he can't have any more until later tonight. Been crying in pain at times with his head and legs feel like jelly. He is not struggling with light etc so I am not worried about anything more serious.

111 passed us over to pharmacist. I was expecting a prescription of Penicillin but nope, it seems he doesn't need it because he is not struggling to breathe and he has eaten (he had a bit of lunch when nurofen kicked in).

He's now back to fever and shivering and in more pain.

He doesn't have a cold or a cough. I do think it's bacterial tonsillitis (not an expert but from my experience with my 2 DC).

Would you go back to 111?

I'm trying not to be a neurotic mum and it's a while since one of my kids have been poorly. But we have always had antibiotics before.

He's been tested for Covid and it's negative.

Just wondering what others would do as this is the 1st time any of my DC has had a fever during the pandemic and its obviously not as easy to access treatment as before.

I've always had ABs for tonsillitis, never known anyone who hasn't be giving them.
Op my DC had it afew month ago, it was horrendous. Dr wouldn't see him and passed it off as a viral infection, he got worse within hours so I took him to a&e (I know, not exactly the place for tonsillitis) but I explained what happened and that he needed medication and GP wouldn't see him.
They were more than happy to see to him and we came out with ABs and difflam. So don't let it put you off going if you can't get seen and I wouldn't wait till morning personally as they can decline quite quickly.
Difflam, amazing stuff on its own, worked a treat before the ABs kicked in.

Yes it needs antibiotics to make it go away. I have had numerous over the years and the pain is excruciating and I've been really ill with it

No real advice, just came on to say I hope he recovers soon. I had tonsillitis twice in 6 months as an adult and will never forget how horrible it was. It’s not just a sore throat!

We have antibiotics. I am relieved.

Thanks everyone for making me feel less neurotic.

Have I spoke to him about quinsy??
Lots of similar symptoms to toncilitis, and if it is he should be in hospital it can be life threatening x

Pleased you got some!
Hope he feels better soon

If you can clearly see white patches on the tonsils then that can only be cleared by antibiotics.

Untrue.

I’m interested to see if all these posters going on about ‘tonsillitis not needing abx’ are actually tonsillitis sufferers themselves.

Yes. I even said so in my post. Had it at least once a year as a kid, and every couple of years as an adult. Sometimes I was really ill, but most often I was just a bit miserable with it.

@BoredZelda

If you can clearly see white patches on the tonsils then that can only be cleared by antibiotics.

Untrue.

I’m interested to see if all these posters going on about ‘tonsillitis not needing abx’ are actually tonsillitis sufferers themselves.

Yes. I even said so in my post. Had it at least once a year as a kid, and every couple of years as an adult. Sometimes I was really ill, but most often I was just a bit miserable with it.

Exactly

Problem is that what one doctor calls 'tonsillitis' another calls 'sore throat'

I'm actually researching this & it seems that the GPs who prescribe the most antibiotics call about 1 in 5 of sore throaty/tonsillitisy problems "sore throat" and the rest either "tonsillitis" or "pharyngitis"

The GPs who prescribe the least antibiotics call about 3/5 of sore throaty/tonsillitisy problems "sore throat" and the rest "tonsillitis" or "pharyngitis".

So whether it is called "tonsillitis" or "sore throat" is in big part up to your GP and probably says as much about your GP's attitudes towards antibiotics as your sore throat

The evidence (from studies) is
a) that 30% of sore throaty/tonsillitisy problems are caused by bacteria
b) if they are caused by bacteria, antibiotics make a difference of on average about a day to how long they last
c) there isn't any reliable way to tell from looking if they're caused by bacteria or not

• there are some signs that suggest it is very unlikely its bacteria (e.g. no pus on the tonsils, aged 15 or over, no fever, a cough, enlarged neck glands)
• even with all of the signs suggesting it is bacteria (i.e. aged under 15 years, pus on tonsils, no cough, fever 38C, enlarged neck glands) only about 1 in 2 are bacteria

Sore Throat Score