5 yr old ill for 8 weeks

[HexBramble]

DD started complaining of really painful headaches at the last half-term. GP said she was suffering a particularly nasty virus that was doing the rounds. Symptoms should have left after 10 days.

But they didn't. She has suffered with daily headaches ever since (claps her hands over her head with sudden noises) and the GP has said that she has post viral symptoms. I've been back twice.

She started complaining of earache last Friday so took her back - I was foreseeing a weekend of ear infection pain (she has had 3 ear infections over the years) but GP saw no infection or redness. Again, viral.

She has worsened since though and has been running a high temp, headaches, terrible sore throat. Her voice sounds distorted and she is even turning down ice cream . She is gulping water as I type this and really struggling. Terrible cough which makes her cry. She vomited yesterday morning but that was a build up of all the phlegm so n

Sorry.

...so nothing since. Her temp in the night rages so she's drinking as much cold water as she can but I can hear her reluctance to swallow, even now. She's struggling.

She's definitely worsening and am taking her to GP again later this morning.

Just needed to get this down. I'm worried about this virus and don't know how to make her little body better.

Do you have an out of hours service? Is her temp coming down with carpool? If her temp is raging, I'd take her there now. Hope she's better soon.

Temp has come down and she's sleeping now thankfully.

GP later because her throat is so painful. She's so run down

Nasty case of tonsillitis.
Amoxicillin given though.
Poor thing.

Get well soon to your wee one Hex, tonsillitis is awful, my DS used to suffer a lot. The antibiotics work v fast

Nodney, thank you for your message.

I know it's only been 1 day of anti-b's but she's had another dreadful night. I am concerned that her meds won't sort this - last ear infection took 2 different AB's because her ear infection was resistant to the amoxicillin. What will tonsillitis do to her if it takes a stronger hold?

This is the most poorly I've seen any of my DC.

If she has tonsilitis she needs penecillin v for 10 days.
Amoxyycillin is pointless.

Badvoc, she's had just a 7 day supply and today, her appetite has returned somewhat.

She's far from right though. Amoxicillin didn't help her last ear infection so why would it work now?

Amoxycillin is a penicillin.

It is an antibiotic often prescribed for tonsillitis.

If she doesn't show a marked improvement after 2 to 3 days on the amoxycillin you may want to see your GP again to consider a second line antibiotic - they are stronger, can still be taken orally, but usually are less well tolerated, eg more side effects. Last resort are IV antibiotics but it would be highly unlikely your dd needs those.

She may first have had a virus, then with the weakened immune system picked up a bacterial infection.

Hopefully she will feel better soon.

This is a huge bug bear of mine.
Nice guidelines state gold standard treatment for tonsiltis is 10 days of penicillin v.
So much bloody time wasted rx amoxyycillin, and children suffer.
The NHS prescribes the cheapest option first, sadly.

I realise amoxyycillin is a penicillin but it's not effective on tonsillitis.

I wonder if there is a particularly nasty virus going around. My 7 year old dd has been sick for about a month. Started with a cough which has got a bit worse. Now she is also finally on antibiotics as does not seem able to shake it off.

I had 10 days of penicillin V during a 6 week stint of tonsillitis.
Had to beg GP to take a swab after I had lost 10lbs (was only a size 10 to begin with in those days) and was feeling like death warmed up.
Turned out to be resistant to the penicillinV and needed a different antibiotic. Which worked in 3 days.

I don't know why they don't take a swab after the first lot of antibiotics fails.

OP there can be serious complications from tonsillitis. Can you see a different GP or go to OOH?

Thanks everyone. The killer sore throat she had has seemed to ease, and her fever has gone so the Ab's did something. She's feeling the cold this morning though and I've popped her into the bath to warm. She is white as a sheet though with still a sore throat and very clingy.

She's just not right, so back to GP tomorrow.

8 weeks is a very long time OP.
after many experiences of my DS being ill and being prescribed antibiotics by GPs I often advise people to go to childrens if their parental instincts tell them something just isn't right. Childrens hospitals have always had more time and more knowledge than the GP IME and can do blood tests and results that day for you. My nephew was prescribed antibiotics yesterday after weeks of a pain under his arm, a huge lump developed yesterday morning and Gp prescribed antibiotics I advised her to take him to childrens if she felt that it was something other than a simple 'infection' She did and they said the antibiotics were a waste of time he's in for an operation today to have lump removed.
After a few days of having AB's with tonsillitus you often start to feel better. If she isn't, and she is pale and cold and been ill for 2 months I would be wanting to see someone else.

The headache virus was going around, I had it and was awful, Hope she starts to feel better soon OP.

Thank you Red.
When you say 'Children's' - do you mean Children's hospital?

I

Sorry, yes i do - only if you feel she is not improving and need to see someone else. In my experience it was always worth it and they never made me feel as though I was wasting their time - I always just got the same answers from the gp and it wasn't helping

I don't know where I'd go.
I'm in Swansea.
5 visits and it's still a 'Virus'.
She's functioning fine - at the moment, she's trotting around eating a lolly to soothe her throat. But her normally peachy skin is so pale. Almost grey

I believe your nearest children's hospital is Noah's ark, Cardiff but I do not think they have a walk in emergency room - I actually think your nearest walk in children's hospital is Bristol. I can understand you not wanting to go that far, you could demand your GP orders blood tests is she is pale

Red, thank you. I'll see how she is over this next week. Poor thing has a punishing schedule when I'm working - up at 6:30 every morning so I'll see what some good sleep and good food does for her, now that I'm off.

You've given me confidence to sort this out though - thank you.

Glad you feel more confident OP, always trust your parental instincs over 'DR' infront of someones name.

Good luck and again hope shes back to herself soon and that you don't have to go further for other opinions. Come back for support if you do.

Hex, can you access a private GP? I find them immensely helpful in situations like these. Don't take viral for an answer anymore, demand tests.