Should I be worried - dd has need antibiotics four times since nov for throat/ear things

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dd is 14 months. She had a severe case of tonsillitis in nov so was given amoxicillin. Then just before Christmas she had a bad throat (not tonsils apparently this time) and was given it again. Then at end of Jan, a month after starting nursery so to be expected I guess, she had an ear infection so given it once more. Now she has a terrible cold and throat. Temp went to 40 and doc was concerned and gave cefalexin. Each time she gets better.

We have to take the antibiotic route not the wait and see route because she has an ongoing kidney issue and is at risk of UTIs and complications, which is why the GP always goes in all guns blazing. She also has a daily dose of a different antibiotic (trimethoprim) so I am totally fine with her taking medicine so please no answers telling me how that will ruin her gut/make her likely to et a superbug/give her another head.

But should I be worried about all the throat and ear things and get an ENT referral or is this just par for the course for a 1yo at nursery?

Thanks

Really sorry to hear that. Read your thread because we are having ent problems, but not as bad as yours. I hope someone can help you. If not I would go for ent referral. Something as simple as tonsilectomy could help if there is an abnormality there as they can cause ear probs aswell as the obvious sore throat.

Can't answer your question wrt your daughter. But last winter DS2 (then 18months) had a dreadful winter - had tonsillitis 4 times, antibiotics each time, temperature going up to 40 degrees each time). It seemed to be worse because he was teething too. He hadn't started nursery but had an older brother who was prob bringing bugs back. I was then ready to ask for a referral, but waited for the next illness - which didn't happen!

This winter, he is (obviously) 2.5 and no antibiotics at all. I was dreading another similar onset. No problems at all. He's had his share of colds and bugs, but not needed any antibiotics. Hurrah. Hope it's a similar story for your DD.

I'm sure you're worried, but just to put it in prospective, ds had probably 15 lots of antibiotics in his first year, and a similar lot in his second year for ear infections. (then he had grommets in)

He had antibiotics 12 times last winter. (age 3-the grommets had come out). One of the antibiotics there is some suspicion that he might have developped a slight resistance to, but only on the basis that last time he had it it didn't seem to do a full job on him. I think it was probably more to do with him having developped his technique for spitting it out over those times. Other than that the antibiotics haven't done him any noticable harm-except a total dislike of any medicine.

Grommets have worked for ds, however I don't think 4x in a winter is a lot. Ds would have it every 10-14 days without grommets at that age. Dd1 had ear infections about 4 x a year for the first couple of years but hasn't had them since.

If you are concerned about the impact of frequent anti-biotica then you could give supplements with 'good bacteria' (sachets with power) and mix them through milk/yogurt/water/juice. You can give them daily. I tend to give a supplement, if it really works or not I don't know. But we haven't had any problems with thrush etc.

I read somewhere that the gut is responsible for 80% of your immune system response so I would second dikkerjadap idea for probiotics something like this - I'm not saying that you are ruining your dd's gut btw she needs the medication she's on or it wouldn't be prescribed I was thinking of what you could try to see if it helped, our ds's have had problems with their ears I get thats its horrible to not be doing something. I think its helped my dc's as well as suppliments (done vit C since they started nursery)

I also think if you are worried you should see GP again, its a difficult one to judge as she has an existing condition and they may be able to reassure you or refer you

Ds has been on antibiotics nearly every 3 weeks since October. He finished on course on Friday and started another yesterday.
He has been on iv antibiotics for 2 weeks he had meningitis and septecemia. He's 17 months and has been on antibiotics atleast every month to 6 weeks since he was born plus the iv.

Personally I think if a child doesn't need them the dr shouldn't give them.
Some drs give them too easy and some hardly give them at all. In your circumstance it's better to be safe than sorry.

Ps I have kidney probs.
I was on a lot of antibiotics when i was younger Inc regular trimotroprim at night. My gut is fine :)
Still have probs but look on the bright side

I might be way off track here but do you clean your dd's ears with cotton buds? For years and years my mum cleaned my ears out and then i cleaned my own out with good old cotton buds and for years and years i had swollen glands, ear aches and sore throats. After a very very painful ear infection (for very very painful read bleep bleep painful) I threw all the cotton buds away in the house and have stuck by the ENT specialist's advice "nothing smaller than your elbow ever goes in your ear".

I haven't had a sore throat or ear infection since.

Sorry if you never clean your DD's ears out and so this is completely irrelevant and I hope she gets better soon.

Ive heard that too. It just irritates the lining Of your ear and sets of from there.

Nope - have never cleaned her ears out though once did my own once then phone rang halfway through, forgot cotton bud was in and picked up phone jamming it in. Cue very trip to walk in clinic for reassurance I hadn't punctured my brain!