should i give her the antibiotics?

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DD was off colour last week, crying a bit at nursery and grinding her teeth (she has SN and can't speak, is 4) Took her to GP on Friday, who said she had a sore ear.

Gp gave us a prescription for amoxycillin but said not to use it unless she got worse/feverish.

She seemed better over the weekend and at start of week.

Today however she was crying on way to nursery, was asleep there when i collected her, looked ill and was grinding teeth again.

Gave her some Nurofen and she is now running around, happy and ate a huge dinner.

Just don't know whether I should just keep up the Nurofen or give her the amoxycillin since it has been well over a week now and she did seem in a lot of pain earlier.

WWYD?

(she has been referred to ENT for repeated ear infections and congestion, and also has severe allergies).

I'm not sure of the answer to your question, but the amoxycillin that my GP prescribes is in liquid form that must be kept in the fridge and would be past the use by date after a week?

She could be grinding her teeth because her ear is hurting? I'd get it looked at again by the GP because although you can tell whether she is feverish, you can't actually tell whether her ear is worse without the GP.

i haven't got the amoxycillin yet, was going to go and get the prescription this evening when DH gets in.

oh right, sorry.

If she usually tolerates amoxycillin OK, then I'd give it to her.

Is a good idea to see GP. It's difficult, she seems to get ear infections which mean she is OK with Nurofen but they drag on for ages, was hoping the antibiotic might end it once and for all (for this time).

Will prob give the antibiotic and see GP tomorrow as well.

She tolerates it (apart from slight upset tum)...even takes it from the spoon willingly (don't know how, it tastes horrid).

Yes, I just held off this time as she has just had some and the GP said not to give them unless she had fever, wish I had given them now!

Wish I could look in her ears myself, it's hard to know what is going on with her when she can't speak and has high pain threshold.

I would hold off unless there is a fever.

It could just be congestion without infection iyswim.

If she starts being hot, then start the antibiotics.

Might even buy an ear scope myself so I can check and see if it is red regularly so I know if she needs painkillers/GP.

Thanks for your advice.

Constance..yes there is that too, she had an allergic reaction to something unknown yesterday and her eyes were swollen earlier, so maybe that was hurting her ears.

MadamDeathstare..I don't know if she will need tubes, she is currently undergoing a lot of tests looking for the cause of her loss of speech when she was 2.10, I doubt her ears are the entire cause but it can't be helping.

If there is infection there will be fever.

Antibiotics won't do anything apart from killing infection, so theres no point giving them without a fever iyswim...hope that makes sense. It could also reduce their efficacy when she really needs them.

I would speak tot he GP again and try to get her ears looked at properly. But congestion can cause earache in itself.

Yes, that is a good idea. She did just seem systemically unwell earlier and looked ill, so I suspected an infection. I'd never use an ear scope at home instead of going to GP, just that they need checked almost every day or two these days and can't always take her to GP every 2 days.

I suppose her allergic reaction could have been making her feel unwell earlier, her eyes were quite swollen and bruised looking.

hmm, now wondering if I should get a nasal spray for her..that is probably a good idea anyway!

Poor thing! I don't know what you ought to do, really - I'm not an expert. I just have a prejudice against antibiotics

It must be very hard to make a judgment when she is unable to tell you very much.

I hope she feels better, anyway.

ah she is a worry with all her neuro appointments, dangerous allergies, eczema and ear infections!

Thanks!

She just climbed up and got hold of some chocolate wafer biscuits and ate about 4 of them so I think she is feeling better!

dh wants to get the antibiotics and see how she is later, seems a bit wasteful though!

What a dilemma it is!!

The evidence for antibiotics in otitis media is not good.

The NHS website gives you a pretty good run through and offers some non-pharmacological options for you to think about.

Thanks for the link DB, that's great to have

thanks, had looked at that. She has gone to sleep without antibiotics,hoping she is better in morning.

Fingers crossed for you.