To not give the antibiotics?

[Pinkstuffs]

DS 9 months saw a gp yesterday evening as he’s been off food and barely eaten or drank (milk or solids) for 5 days. He has lost about 5oz. She said his throat looked red and his tonsils were swollen but no pus. As he hasn’t eaten or drank and lost weight she prescribed antibiotics to be on the safe side.

However since we got home DS seems to have turned a corner and has had 3 feeds in the night and an 8oz bottle this morning. He seems tired but perky. No fever.

He has had tonsillitis before and the antibiotics were such a nightmare to administer I think they caused him more distress. That time he was eating more but he seemed more ill with a high fever etc.

I also feel like he’s young to have been on 2 courses of antibiotics. AIBU to not start the course?

Why wouldn't you contact the doctor and ask?

Because she’s already had a doctors appointment, been seen, assessed, treated. With the pressure on GP appointments it would be inappropriate to call today and ask if it was Ok to not give the medicine that was given yesterday !

OP it’s probably viral, the GP was just being cautious. If your child seems better then it’s OK to hold off giving the antibiotics. But if he takes a turn for the worse later I would start the medicine.

Yes I’d hold off giving them to him, give it 24hrs and see how he is.

Antibiotics are so harmful to your body, it’s best to only use them when really needed as they’ll lower his immune system.

It makes sense to take a young child to the doctor if they have been ill for a number of days. The doctor has treated it cautiously and prescribed without taking a swab nor with their being any evidence (pus) of a bacterial infection. You now have indications that your child has improved and is likely heading towards the end of this illness, so it is prudent to wait and see how things progress.

I agree hold off. I've prescribed antibiotics in borderline cases before and would say to maybe give it 24 hours to see which direction the illness goes and if getting better then leave it.

Circumstances have changed since they were prescribed. I'd hold off and see what he's like today.

Thanks he’s eaten almost a usual amount today and had plenty of milk so I’m still inclined to leave it. DH thinks we should give them just to be safe and in case it gets worse, but my feeling is it’s been a virus and he’s getting over it now.