Recurring tonsillitis in a 7 year old

[pinkpiggy]

My DS has had tonsillitis 4 times since June. I have taken him to the GP 3 times and he has had a course of penicillin each time times. He is now ill again with headaches, slightly raised temperature, a tummy ache, lethargic and a sore throat. His tonsils have white spots on them.

The GP will probably prescribe yet another course of antibiotics. Is this the best route? What else can I do? How many bouts do children have before surgery is recommended and any other advice?

A lot of school is being missed and my work is now getting funny about the time I am having to keep taking off. Help!

My friend had taken her DS several times with recurring bouts of tonsillitis to the same GP the last 3 years of primary school but it was a locum who said that enough was enough. It worked out at about 4 attacks a year over nearly 3 years. Every time he took antibiotics he got diarrhea to add to the misery. He had his tonsils out before starting secondary school and hasn't looked back. If he had eventually grown out of tonsillitis he would have endured years of to-ing and fro-ing.

I think it's five times a year. So I'd ask for a referral to an ENT doctor.

DD1 was younger but the short story is "penicillin didn't work that why it reoccured so much as the doc always prescribed the same over and over. In the end she had another antibiotic, "klacid" (brand name not sure about the active ingredient), which got rid of it then there was a few months of trying to get rid of the oral thrush with several technics because of so much antibiotics in so little time
Try to get a referal to an ENT or try to get your GP to prescribed something else. Ask for a swab to make sure the ABs works.

Thank you everyone. Well the GP gave me yet another course of anti biotics, a different kind and did a swab. He said if it happens again then surgery is the way forward

Speaking from bitter experience, if GP doesn't give you a referral next time I'd be quite vocal about saying he'd told you that it would be his next step and assertive that you'd like a member of the ENT team at the hospital to assess him.

My DS is having tonsils, adenoids and grommets done soon - waiting for a date from the hospital. (DS has sleep apnea and glue ear.) I wish I'd pushed harder - DS was given olive oil drops for his ears on every flippin' GP appt and all the other symptoms I was told were 'normal for a lad his age'. Not sure if I'm more cross with the GP or angry with myself for not being more pushy.

Make sure you get a referral next time! I'm an ENT nurse so am telling you to push for it!

Btw Klacid is clarithromycin which is usually given as alternative to penicillin, like if you're allergic to it.