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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if A&E is overreacting.

159 replies

CoconutSky · 11/04/2025 18:31

A week ago on Wednesday DD had what I thought was a viral infection. Temp, off food etc. it seemed to go by the Friday so I thought nothing of it

On Sunday I had symptoms of strep, sudden sore throat, headache so ended up on penicillin

Wednesday just gone I took her straight to the walk in centre as she was really lethargic, fever and swollen glands. Dr said there said swollen throat with some white streaks so tonsillitis, prescribed Pen V 4 times a day. I gave her 2 doses on Wednesday which I’ve had to conceal in Coca Cola as it’s the only thing that masks the taste.

She seemed abit better yesterday but today the temp seems to be creeping back up. She’s got some diarrhoea the same as me so I know the PenV is getting into her system. She’s not eating properly. Maybe chocolate stars and mini cookies but aside from that nothing. Drinking with encouragement and weeing.

She’s not lethargic til the temp creeps up. I’m worried re the not eating and the fevers, she won’t open her mouth either and I know she has an adult molar that just came through with a big white patch on the gum and I think it’s making her abit dribbly.

She also keeps getting a really flushed face, and I’m almost certain she’s got strawberry tongue so I’m thinking more scarlet fever. Im not sure what to do, should the antibiotics have kicked in by now? I’m really anxious re sepsis etc and I do suffer badly with health anxiety.

OP posts:
Original poster
CoconutSky · 13/04/2025 05:25

Would they give tablets at this age? Cos I’m thinking I could crush them into yoghurt.

OP posts:
sunsu · 13/04/2025 05:32

CoconutSky · 13/04/2025 05:25

Would they give tablets at this age? Cos I’m thinking I could crush them into yoghurt.

I’m not sure how the antibiotics she is on works specifically but you will need to explain the issues clearly to the doctor and pharmacy as some medications cannot be crushed or mixed with food/drinks. Doing so can affect their ability to work correctly.

Original poster
CoconutSky · 13/04/2025 05:39

It’s phenoxymethyll penicillin

OP posts:
WellFilledLeggings · 13/04/2025 05:46

Sympathy OP, I have an autistic DD who had tonsillitis around 30 times and quinsy 3 times from age 2-14 when we finally got the tonsils removed. Getting her to take antibiotics was a nightmare when she was younger. She ended up in hospital twice as a result, once with patronising medical staff telling me and DH that there were 2 of us and one teeny tiny 3 YO DD and that we'd allowed the illness to progress by failing to get her to take the medication. I have never felt more vindicated than when it took 3 medical staff together to try and get her to take the medicine and they failed. All I can say is hang in there, hopefully her system will fight it off soon. Also it's a bit niche but in case it would help, DD liked ketchup so we would mix her meds in a teaspoon of that and it masked the taste.

Comtesse · 13/04/2025 05:46

Can you use a syringe like the calpol one, squirt it straight down? She could even do it herself.

Amberlynnswashcloth · 13/04/2025 06:11

My DC5 was on penicillin and had a 40+ degree fever for a week before the GP sent us to A&E and even then we were home after a few hours because the findings were "infection" and we were advised to keep taking antibiotics.

It doesn't always have to be a catastrophe. Try not to worry.

OneCalmFish · 13/04/2025 06:27

CoconutSky · 13/04/2025 04:46

She’s autistic. I can’t force her to take anything. It’s such a vile taste.
I’ve tried hiding it in everything. I’m at a loss.

So my boy is nearly 2 also hates the taste they’re all vile tbf I put his in a syringe and had another filled with calpol or ibuprofen so I’d sit him on my knee one arm around him holding his arm legs between my knees and syringe in a little at a time and had a drink handy to wash down taste but usually didn’t need it as I’d keep saying you get the other one after this, this will stop your mouth hurting get you better. Still doesn’t like it but after 4 times he’s got used to it. Phen V is not as bad as the clarithromycin I think but he’s had both twice. Don’t give after food I got puked on a couple of times as it made him gag x

Oldermum84 · 13/04/2025 06:42

Try not to worry too much, I've had tonsillitis several times as an adult and never taken antibiotics. It will likely clear up by itself.

However, yes you can ask for tablets if you feel this is better. My DS had a bad ear infection a couple of winters ago at the time everyone was panicking about scarlet fever and after phoning 30 chemists we couldn't find the liquid antibiotics he needed - the GP prescribed tablets we crushed and mixed into honey on a spoon. Not ideal but he did get better. He was 2/3 years old.

RosesAndHellebores · 13/04/2025 07:05

OneCalmFish · 13/04/2025 06:27

So my boy is nearly 2 also hates the taste they’re all vile tbf I put his in a syringe and had another filled with calpol or ibuprofen so I’d sit him on my knee one arm around him holding his arm legs between my knees and syringe in a little at a time and had a drink handy to wash down taste but usually didn’t need it as I’d keep saying you get the other one after this, this will stop your mouth hurting get you better. Still doesn’t like it but after 4 times he’s got used to it. Phen V is not as bad as the clarithromycin I think but he’s had both twice. Don’t give after food I got puked on a couple of times as it made him gag x

Show quote history

You clearly do not have a medicine resistant child. You have a child who doesn't like it and can be persuaded.

The only thing that persuaded dd to take ab's aged five was when the A&E Dr explained that if she didn't, she'd have to stay in hospital and have a little needle put in her hand, and showed it to her, and have the medicine through a drip.

She promised the Dr if he allowed her home, to take the medicine. And I promised her a toyshop trip to chose whatever toy she wanted if she did.

It is not possible to get meds inside or keep them inside a totally resistant child. The only way we managed with calpol/nurofen was with suppositories until she was about three.

Fortunately from about 7 she learnt to swallow a tablet.

Gruddalo · 13/04/2025 07:07

@CoconutSky

DS is neurodiverse + hated medicine.

I tried favourite thing to watch on YouTube/iPhone as a distraction. Favourite food - he likes yogurt - but you could also try apple puree, chocolate sauce.
One pot normal, one pot mixed with medicine.

Start with normal pot, and then after two spoons do a medicine pot spoon. Go back to normal pot. Then keep switching with medicine pot/normal pot.

No mention of ‘you need to take medicine’.

Fraaances · 13/04/2025 07:08

Her tongue looks like scarlet fever to me. I have just had it myself and I felt rotten. I'd be giving her calpol (Not in uk, so assuming it's paracetamol) and ibuprofen together - ensuring that this is with or after food, as it's not good on an empty stomach. Also ensure that you don't go over the dosage or under the time limits for either drug.

travelallthetime · 13/04/2025 07:37

Penicillin makes me throw up unless I eat something with it. My doctor said ignore the empty stomach and just eat something small before taking, it’s only recommended an empty stomach so it absorbs quicker. On that note, if it means getting them into her I would continue to mix with the Diet Coke, it doesn’t mean they won’t work, just that they won’t be absorbed as quickly, and if she had a drink straight after taking them it would be no different in the stomach!

TheAmusedLimePanda · 13/04/2025 07:46

Have you tried in a chocolate mousse? It was the only thing my DC would take it in.

RedOrangeSky · 13/04/2025 08:17

My son is the same with antibiotics. Nothing works if he can taste. And if you try force he spits out.
I think people who haven't experienced resistance don't always understand.

Mine won't take Calpol either. Luckily he has never been seriously ill.

Whoahnelly · 13/04/2025 08:22

One of my kids refuses medicine and we had a very similar situation a couple years back. We ended up having a syringe with the medicine in, squirting a teeny bit in their mouth and getting them to swallow and immediately chase it down with a sip of coke through a straw and then repeat until the syringe was empty. Absolute utter faff but has worked ever since.

Ketryne · 13/04/2025 08:31

On the taste of the medicine - did you make sure you got the sugary one? My son will take that happily but one time the pharmacy gave me a sugar free version and he outright refused. Had to go get a new prescription.

SleepyRic · 13/04/2025 08:32

CoconutSky · 13/04/2025 05:25

Would they give tablets at this age? Cos I’m thinking I could crush them into yoghurt.

You can absolutely have tablets instead of suspension, could put a request in tomorrow to change over. It's just typical to give suspension at 5 because normally easier to give then tablets but if yours would get on better with tablets then ask them to switch/give tablets in future.

With penV typically you can either have it as 2 or 4 separate doses. They'll still have the same amount over the course of 24hrs, but essentially less faff if you only have to give it twice.

SaltedPotato · 13/04/2025 08:33

You need to get the meds into her OP.
Even if it means forcing it in as a very last resort. Yes this will be controversial but at the end of the day your DD doesn't have capacity to understand the risks of not taking the medication.
My dad had to hold my autistic brother down at around the same age to have a general anaesthetic. Broke my dad's heart and my brother still remembers it. But at the end of the day your the adult and the person responsible. Septic tonsillitis can be very dangerous. I'm sorry your in this situation.

Original poster
CoconutSky · 13/04/2025 11:10

Swapped it for clarithromycin. She’s discovered I’m hiding it in things. I’m absolutely out of my fucking mind. Of all the kids to get antibiotics she won’t take them. I’m so so stressed out. She’s had nothing since yesterday.

OP posts:
Ketryne · 13/04/2025 11:48

I think it was amoxicillin my 3 year old DS said genuinely tastes nice as long as it was the sugary one. It’s yellow and very sweet. Could you ask for that one?

Strep throat is the only time I’ve been in a&e with him, the temperature spikes were quite scary.

Original poster
CoconutSky · 13/04/2025 11:52

That’s what my issue is. The temp spikes. I’m gonna try get capsules now. If that doesn’t work I don’t know. I can’t cope with this at all it’s like all the pinning down has traumatised her

OP posts:
Oldermum84 · 13/04/2025 12:49

CoconutSky · 13/04/2025 11:52

That’s what my issue is. The temp spikes. I’m gonna try get capsules now. If that doesn’t work I don’t know. I can’t cope with this at all it’s like all the pinning down has traumatised her

The temperature is the body's way of killing the infection/virus. It's a good thing.

Original poster
CoconutSky · 13/04/2025 15:03

Gonna try the capsules today. If that doesn’t work I’ll have to take her back AGAIN. I have never ever known anything like this. It’s like she’s traumatised.

OP posts:
Original poster
CoconutSky · 13/04/2025 15:50

If these tablets won’t go down, even just by cracking them open. Can I ask what the likely course of action is. I am honestly out of my mind here.

OP posts:
LuvACustardCream · 13/04/2025 15:58

I think you need to get some help for your health anxiety. This thread is really OTT.