Recurrent tonsillitis-experience/alternative remedies?

[toeragsnotriches]

DS1 (4.5) is now in his 3rd case of tonsillitis this winter (having had more earlier in the year.) Each time he ends up on antibiotics as he's so ill with 40 and 41 deg temperatures that don't come down with paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Does anyone have any experience of using alternative treatments as a preventative for tonsillitis or just immune system strengthening? Acupuncture? Naturopathy? Cranial osteopathy? The GP suggested homeopathy.

There is also the option of having them out but according to the GP the case has to be even more extreme than ours before they consider you. And we can't afford to go private. I'm also not sure of the pros/cons of tonsillectomy. I had mine out age 16 and didn't have any more tonsillitis but there must be a reason why they don't think it's as effective any more...

I'm a bit lost and just don't know where to start.

Hi Ds had this for two years before he had them out. He was the same very high temps that don't come down etc. Before he had them out he was put on antibiotics every night and for 5 days is an infection. It really helped and he only had 2 full blown infections in the six months where he was having it pretty much getting over one infection before getting another. He also had vitamins tablets as well as he was wasn't eating much. I also know that cranial osteopathy can really help as well.

A well chosen homoeopathic remedy can help your child through the full-on, flare-up stage, and also, your child will need 'constitutional' treatment, which will take your childs whole being into account. This constitutional treatment may take a few months (seeing a homoeopath about once a month), but is aimed at addressing any weaknesses or imbalances your child may have. Once these things have been adressed - all things you think may be relavent will be considered, from inherited weakness (dis-eases of the parents and grandparents), to how he is doing emotionally and socially at home and at school, to his whole medical history right back to the pregnancy with him, and right up to his most recent flare-up - then he will be clearer and stronger. Homoeopathy is no quick fix, and although it can help him through the acute phase, you and him will need to go through his entire history with a homoeopath in order to prevent re-occurences. Homoeopathy is about identifying and adressing problems, not supressing them. If you are up to the challenge, have a look at the Society of Homeopathy website,or Homeopathy for Everyone tonsillitis.

Thanks so much already! cedmonds how awful for your DS and how exhausting for you. One infection after another must have drained him and all the rest of the family. So he had antibiotics prophylactically as well as to treat the infection?

And Divingforpearls you sound as though you really know what you are talking about! I'll have a look at those sites - I'm guessing they'll have a list of registered practitioners in my area? There is a clinic once a week at the community centre where DS2's nursery is but I'd like to find a recommended practitioner instead of just the nearest. Will have a go on the mumsnet local for round here.

Thanks both

HI
Yes DS was on the antibiotics prophylactically and when he had a infection it was increased to 4x a day or another antibiotic was given and then the prophylactic dose again. I also paid for him to be seen privately and he was then transferred on to the NHS for the opp. Doing it that way ment that he was seen a lot quicker but he still waited to 6 months for the opp.Where as my DN waited 2 weeks to have hers done and she was having no infections just very big tonsils.

Mmm. I think I'd feel more confident about him having it done in an NHS hospital. My neighbour is a midwife and used to be an intensive care nurse and says she'd never have an op in a private hospital - far better to go for the big NHS centres with the equipment, consultants etc on hand 24 hours. Another friend who's an A and E registrar says the same. And anyway we can't afford it .

Definitely try homeopathy. I've always suffered with tonsilits - the last couple of years I've been averaging about 4 bouts a year. This time last year I just couldn't shake it and had 3 courses of antibiotics in about 2 months. I'd literally get better for a couple of weeks and then get it again. As I really didn't fancy surgery - and DH was balking at the price tag of going private - I saw a homeopath. After that I didn't have another bout for a year and, when I did, 3 days of remedies sorted it. Much, much better than more antibiotics.

DD had hers out at 5, after two really rotten years of almost constant infections...she didn't grow at all for a year as she was using all her energy to fight off the next lot of germs!(so keep an eye on his growth rate by plotting it in your Red Book)

It made a world of difference to her..although, be warned, it is distressingly painful for them for a week afterwards.

There is reasonable evidence for prophylactic antibiotics...a winter-long course at a low daily dose, I think several ENT surgeons recommend that now.

As far as private medicine goes, I think most children seen by a specialist privately go on to be referred onto theire NHS list for theatre at a NHS hospital.

Don't know much about homeopathy, apart from advising you to see a registered, reputable practitioner, other posters have made really helpful suggestions there.

DD1 spent most of her preschool year having tonsilitis and was so unwell with it.
I did start taking her to a chiropractor/cranial therapist for something unrelated to the tonsils when she was about 4 (I think )and the woman said one of the benefits was that cranial therapy really can help your immune system.
At the same time we started giving her black elderberry - a herbal anti viral. My theory was that if I could stop her from getting colds so often it might break the cycle
So I don't know which has worked, or whether it was something she was going to grow out of, but while she has had a couple of shortlived colds this year she has definately not had tonsilitis in a long time and is a much,much healthier child. She still sees the cranial therapist about every 3-4 months.

So much good advice here - thank you all. Lola how did you find your homeopath? timetosmile I hadn't thought about the growth thing. Need to dig out that red book! bubble what is cranial therapy? And how did you find your practitioner? I'm concerned that if we do explore the alternative medicine route at the same time as getting a case together for the op/prophylactic anti biotics I use a reputable, certified person... In truth, I wouldn't know where to begin!

The Society of Homeopaths website, or the Alliance of Registered Homoepaths website are the places to go to find lists of registered members in your area. They follow strict codes of ethics and professionalism here. Lots of info. on the Society website.

Thank you again, so much! Will have to get my brain in gear when DH gets back from the states...

probably should have said http://www.craniosacral.co.uk/ craniosacral therapy
I just phoned the nearest one I could find in the yellow pages, but she then recommended another one who specialises in treating children

craniosacral therapy

sorry - don't know why that first link didn't work

More ideas! Even better. Thanks so much.