Tonsilitis - Child

[FlipFlopsMakeMyToesCold]

My 6 year old has all the symptoms of bad tonsilitis. Swollen tonsils, pus spots, nausea, headache, hot to touch and their are no words to describe how awful her breath is!

Called NHS direct because she woke up clutching her head and crying and have been waiting a couple of hours for a callback. Giving her fluids and calpol but she probably needs antibiotics and don't want to wait until GP opens on Monday.

Our nearest walk in centre is a train and bus ride away and she doesn't travel well (awful motion sickness). We don't drive.

Aibu to take her to hospital which is literally no more than minutes away from us?

l I took dd to a&e last night because she was breathing in a really odd way. After obs in the children's Ed they determined that she did not need emergency treatment so sent us to out of hours anyway. So might do simillar with you so would be a wasted journey

Call nhs 24 - they should be able to prescribe antibiotics over the phone and get the prescription sent electronically to your local pharmacy.

I have had this before with DC.

Personally I would wait for a callback. The hospital will not prioritise because it isn't an emergency so you could be waiting for a very long time.

Can you get someone to give you a lift to the walk in centre or go by taxi?

Calpol for pain and to keep her fever down and lots of ice lollies until you either manage to get antibiotics or can get to OOH. Tonsillitis isn't something that you should use A&E for even in a child and it's better an uncomfortable journey to be seen at OOH than spending God knows how long in A&E as you will most certainly be there a long time as your daughter hasn't had an accident and isn't an emergency.

Thank you eveyone.

We are going to try get her to OOH rather than go a&e. Hopefully NHS will phone in meantime whilst we are figuring out how to get her to OOH centre.

Called the walk in centre which was very frustrating conversation because despite telling him her symptoms, all he asked was if I've tested her for Covid. I know she hasn't got Covid, she has tonsilitis.

They said I need to take her a&e.