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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Is this normal?

13 replies

jazzyjess55 · 09/04/2023 22:33

Posting for traffic.
Since my 13 month old dd started nursery we have had constant illnesses and I mean back to back. I know this is normal to an extent especially in a post covid world where bugs are widespread and nastier. However she has been unwell constantly for months. Mostly coughs, throat and chest infections but also some nasty ear infections with gunk seeping from her ears. She has had endless courses of antibiotics and while she does seem to get better while she's taking them, as soon as she stops she's poorly again within a few days. We've had countless calls to 111, trips to A and E and all they seem to do is prescribe more antibiotics which can't be good for her.
Do I need to request some additional tests? Her throat and ears seem particularly susceptible to infection so maybe a referral to ENT would help? Or does this sound normal for a young child who is in their first few months of nursery? I expected it to an extent but not so severely so often. It's affecting her sleep, her feeding, we've had to cancel holidays and I just want her to be well without having to pump her full of antibiotics.
In the last 6-8 weeks she's had about 4-5 courses of varying antibiotics and these have often been prescribed over the phone without her even being seen by anyone. This can't be right can it?

OP posts:

SuperSleepyBaby · 09/04/2023 22:38

I have 4 children who went to nursery and they all got sick at times but it was continuous like that

saucerfulofwater · 09/04/2023 22:50

Endless courses of antibiotics is not the norm and you or DC shouldn't be prescribed them. Is your GP fobbing you off by just writing a script? If so - go elsewhere as this is a red flag. In answer to your questions - sadly babies for get a shed loads of infections and it call feel debilitating. I would honestly go elsewhere if I was you and look for a GP who is not so prescriptive-happy. DS had horrendous colds and sore throats as a child - in the end we insisted on blood tests (not nice for 18 month old) but it did stop us worrying about rare stuff like leukaemia and focus on what was causing it (Strep A)

TakeMyStrongHand · 09/04/2023 23:10

100% not right. DD was constantly bringing home illnesses when she first when but they were all viruses that would not be affected by antibiotics. DD has never had antibiotics. I know it's different post covid but you need to push the doctor for further investigation!

Choccyeggs20 · 09/04/2023 23:34

There’s a lot going around at the moment and I think GPs are prescribing antibiotics more freely after the strep A concerns.

If you are worried go back to the doctors.

Original poster

jazzyjess55 · 10/04/2023 08:32

She has had strep and the doctors initially said that maybe one course of antibiotics hadn't cleared it so we had another. Fine. But this was about 4 or 5 courses of antibiotics ago so surely it would have gone by now?

She has been very poorly on weekends and bank holidays a few times so it's been the out of hours doctor who has prescribed antibiotics and to be honest I've been so worried about her I just took them as they do make her better in the short term. But as soon as she finishes a course she seems to be unwell again a few days later. On the most recent occasion she finished a course of amoxicillin on the Tuesday and by the Friday she was in pain and feverish again so was prescribed another course. It doesn't seem right that she's so poorly so often.

OP posts:

Original poster

jazzyjess55 · 10/04/2023 13:42

Just giving this another bump

OP posts:

UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 10/04/2023 13:45

Constantly sick with mild viral illnesses: totally normal.

Gunk oozing from ears and a revolving door or bacterial infections: not normal. Needs investigation. I’m so sorry you’re both going through this!

Forgooodnesssakenow · 10/04/2023 13:53

We had a winter of this with my 1 and 5 yr old, she'd 3 courses of antibiotics, 2 of steroids, now has an ent referral and an inhaler for wheeze. 5 yr old had 4 courses of antibiotics and his ent referral has been in ongoing for a while. Bad year for it, never known either child be like this.

Original poster

jazzyjess55 · 10/04/2023 14:00

My older dc obviously got poorly when they were small especially just after starting nursery but never so often. Four courses of antibiotics over the full winter season might not even seem so bad, but four courses in 6 weeks? Initially I just thought the original infection hadn't shifted but it can't be that now. Since someone mentioned leukaemia I feel really worried.

She's absolutely fine within herself now. Runny nose and a bit of a cough but happy enough. But when she finishes this current course of antibiotics I'm worried the whole cycle will start again.

OP posts:

Skybluepinky · 10/04/2023 14:12

Nurseries r germ factories, everything goes in their mouths and lots children pick their noses and wipe it on others.
If u r worried take to GP for. Referral but they might not meet the threshold for this.

blebbleb · 10/04/2023 15:47

My son got ill so often at the childminder in the first year, tonsillitis, strep, croup, various colds and coughs but he's no only needed antibiotics twice.

Original poster

jazzyjess55 · 10/04/2023 18:15

blebbleb · 10/04/2023 15:47

My son got ill so often at the childminder in the first year, tonsillitis, strep, croup, various colds and coughs but he's no only needed antibiotics twice.

How did you know when he 'needed' them? On the occasions dd had pus coming from her ears I knew she needed them because of the risk of sepsis. This is what a pharmacist told me. The rest of the times she was just really unsettled and clearly in pain but maybe she could have managed without, I don't know.

She has been coughing - not continually but at various points throughout the day - for weeks now despite the numerous courses of antibiotics. She also keeps coming down with ear and throat infections. It's horrendous. I definitely will push for a referral if things don't improve. It can't be good for her to have so many courses of antibiotics. She has terrible nappy rash at the moment because the current lot are giving her diarrhoea. The whole thing is just awful.

OP posts:

blebbleb · 10/04/2023 18:28

I think my sons illnesses have been mostly viral so antibiotics wouldn't help. He's had antibiotics for tonsillitis and strep but that's it. He had steroids for croup. Colds and coughs and stuff like hand foot and mouth which he's had a few times are viral so antibiotics wouldn't do anything. He's never had an ear infection touch wood and it does sound like you'd need antibiotics for that. He's had various incidences of conjunctivitis but again that's viral and it's just time. He also had Covid but he wasn't really affected by that. We have a pretty good doctors surgery and they've always been helpful over the phone and in person if needed. Does she get seen in person? Poor thing :( it's awful the amount of times some children get ill!

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