WWYD use the antibiotics or not ? 10 month old DS

[Liveinthepresent]

my DS started nursery in January and has predictably been picking up all the bugs since then. In February we ended up at the GP as he had a cough/ cold that was quite bad with high temps etc. the GP prescribed antibiotics to use if he got worse and not better - he didn't need them.
Since then the cough has lingered but not been too bad - i phoned the GP again for advice at one point and he said for every 30 babies given antibiotics probalby only one would benefit. we just carried on waiting for it to go away by itself until last week when it seems he got a new cough/cold combo and he now has a really hacking cough waking him in the night, his little chest is so rattly.

I view antibiotics as the last resort and know they aren't a miracle cure - but DH and I are now wondering whether its worth a try?

What would you do?

Meanwhile I have a 3yr old DD with impetigo who I am having the same dilemma about - off to start another thread!

I would go back to the gp tbh or walk in, with such a little one.
If it were me and I thought I had a chest infection, I would just take the antibiotics, but not for a child.

If antibiotics are prescribed I always do the course with the dc's.
Gp's don't prescribe lightly now, and both my dc's have ended up in very poorly states for not having been prescribed ab's when they really needed them.
They are not a miracle cure, but why not use the correct treatment for a condition, when it's available and offered?

Hope all are well soon.

I would go back to the doctors - it could be a secondary infection which would likely be bacterial and will benefit from anti-biotics.

Anti-biotics are no the work of he devil, they are a useful tool against infection, used properly - i agree with you wholeheartedly abou overuse and am glad that GPs are not over prescribing them. But they are a good thing when used appropriately. How long they will continue to have a value is another question.

That is why i would return to the GP though, no point in giving hem if its a virus but it sounds like he has had that cough for a long time and i would want to check for things like asthma (just to be sure)

I would and have used them on dd

I would go back to GP. Liquid antibiotics have a short shelf life and often need to kept refrigerated, they might not be any good now.

thanks all - we decided to go for it - they are in date etc - so we will give him the course and of course if it lingers back to the GP we go.
I know some of you were saying head to the GP now but I am pretty sure even if i could get an appt I would have ended up with the same thing prescribed.
fingers crossed it works.
I feel happier we are trying something rather than leaving it all weekend.

Good decision.