To not get treatment for this?

[twotiredwithtwo]

Posting for traffic

I believe I have tonsillitis, very red and swollen throat and some lovely white spots and lines over them. DD(3) has just recovered from Strep, having had to go to hospital in an ambulance when she began struggling to breathe as a reault, and needing stronger antibiotics.

I feel okay in myself, definitely unwell and exhausted but managing okay, though if this was pre having children, I'd probably have stayed in bed all day. I wouldn't say I need to see a GP for how I feel however I've been informed by two family members that I must go to the GP tomorrow to get antibiotics because of the white spots, is this true?

Should be irrelevant but it's my birthday tomorrow and I'd really rather not spend my day at the GP and driving around trying to find these elusive antibiotics!

Not a medic but no of course you don’t HAVE to get antibiotics. Maybe family members are just thinking it’d be better to be seen asap before Christmas and so it doesn’t worsen and you end up really poorly.
NHS website seems to say antibiotics aren’t always prescribed for tonsillitis anyway and it can clear up itself in a few days.
hope you’re feeling better soon OP.

Thank you for responding @Flapjack637 I think I'll just play it by ear and see how I feel. I certainly don't want to be wasting NHS time and resources or taking antibiotics from someone who actually needs them.

In my experience it's rare for GPs to give adults antibiotics for a throat infection unless it's very clearly bacterial. The last time mine was so bad I couldn't swallow or sleep for the pain and they didn't give me anything until it eventually spread to my ears. Sorry you're poorly for your birthday.

Yes good point. Really hope you have a speedy recovery!

I wouldn’t take AB’s for tonsillitis, whilst it can be awful, it is generally a self limiting illness.

In my opinion we hand out far too many AB’s and it really worries me.

I would definitely see a doctor. White spots usually indicate a bacterial infection and with Christmas only a few days away the last thing you want is to be in A&E with bacterial sepsis.

White spots are bacterial not viral so you probably will need antibiotics if you want it to go away and not get worse. Fwiw I've had 2 types of antibiotics the last couple of weeks and both were easily obtained at 2 separate chemists. I mean you could just leave it till you feel worse if that would help you feel like you aren't wasting anyone's time.

Not necessarily. White spots can be bacterial, viral or fungal infection. They can also be tonsil stones.

I would suggest gargling with salt water and then see how you get on over the next couple of days. It's a week off Christmas so plenty of time to see the GP later in the week.

I have similar and if it's not better by Tuesday or Wednesday, I plan on seeing the GP.

Centor criteria for antibiotics:

Tonsillar exudate

Tender anterior cervical lymphadenopathy or lymphadenitis

History of fever (over 38 degrees Celsius)

Absence of cough

Each of the Centor criteria score 1 point (maximum score of 4). A score of 0, 1 or 2 is thought to be associated with a 3 to 17% likelihood of isolating streptococcus. A score of 3 or 4 is thought to be associated with a 32 to 56% likelihood of isolating streptococcus.

Bacterial sepsis? Why the drama? Yes the OP might get that, but the likelihood is she probably won’t.

That’s quite a leap, from tonsillitis to sepsis. Think you would have to be very unlucky.

I had tonsillitis a few weeks ago and was prescribed antibiotics after seeing the Nurse Practitioner. My father is a retired GP and encouraged me to see them for antibiotics. Started to feel better within a few days. I did however feel like utter shit and it was killing me to swallow anything. If you don't feel unwell just see how it goes. You could always ask a pharmacist for advice as well.