Tonsillitis Antibiotics Quandary!

[WorriedMumZZ]

Sorry to post here but I’m just after some opinions!

my little boy (3) has had 3 lots of tonsillitis since November. He’s had a cold for 3-4 days and since yesterday his tonsils are swollen and white. We are due to go on holiday on Tuesday so GP has prescribed antibiotics but has left the decision up to me if I start him on them as he’s currently fine in himself with no fever!

what would everyone else do? I’m inclined to wait it out but scared I’m doing the wrong thing and will make him really poorly once abroad.

I am not being unreasonable - start antibiotics
I am being unreasonable - hold off starting them!

please help a worried mum out! :-(

I'd hold off if he's OK especially as the antibiotics need to be kept in the fridge. Proper hassle if you're travelling. He'll probably fight it off himself.

Mine had strep a and then tonsillitis for a few months starting November - the antibiotics would clear it up for a week or so, then it would kick back in. I waited until the fever or refusal of fluids started before giving them.

I'd say fill the prescription but wait until he needs it. My ds (now 4) did eventually stop being struck down eventually, although we were looking at removal shortly.

Take the antibiotics just in case, but his immune system will probably fight it off without them. Antibiotics should be fine for a few days out of the fridge, but throw them away if you don't use them.

My son had a few episodes of tonsillitis, we found he got over it quicker if he took antibiotics asap.

Take the antibiotics with you in case he gets worse would be my advice.
Tonsils can remain permanently enlarged after tonsillitis. This happened for my son until he eventually had them taken out nearly a year ago - no cough or cold or respiratory bug of any kind since!

My daughter had tonsillitis regularly as a toddler and she had to have ABS every time to recover…having her tonsils out aged 4 was the best decision!

Having been in similar situation, I went with taking the antibiotics. We used ice packs and that kept the bottle cold.

Delayed prescribing is a method designed to safely reduce antibiotic use. If he's already improving I wouldn't give them, but if severe symptoms were persisting/getting worse then I would.

https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/3316/feverpain-score-strep-pharyngitis

That link shows a commonly used decision tool for whether antibiotics will likely be beneficial over the harm they cause. It's out of 5 points.

0-1 abx not advised.
2-3 consider delayed abx
4-5 prescribe abx

But even with 5 points only 62-65% will be a streptococcus infection. So although anyone scoring 5 points would be prescribed antibiotics, if you took a group of 10 of these people likely 4 people will not see any benefit and only experience the side effects.

Last time I had tonsillitis (caused by strep), I got antibiotics and began taking them before the fever kicked in. I did get a mild fever, but was able to keep working and functioned pretty well.

One time I had not gone to the Dr until after I'd ignored my sore throat, then sweated out a high fever while almost delirious.

Another time, when I was due to give birth, I went to a Dr who was dismissive and didn't prescribe me anything. I went into labour and had my baby, still with my sore throat. The night after I gave birth, possibly because my body was weakened, my temperature climbed sky-high, I was shaking and brain-foggy, so the midwives thought I had sepsis from the birth. I got marched on to the balcony in December wearing a nightie (it was that or a cold shower), almost forcefed water, had my wee measured and put on saline and antibiotic drips. Swabs taken from my vagina and throat revealed my tonsils to be the culprit!

Take the antibiotics before it gets bad, because when it gets bad it can really kick your ass!

Thanks everyone! It’s been really helpful 😀

Update - tonsils ended up so much they are blocking his airway when sleeping so he’s been admitting into hospital for IV antibiotics. 😢

That should say swelling!