No antibiotics for infected throat?

[Pimpernella]

Poor DS is on day 3 of severe sore throat with fever so, after a bit of googling, read that if there was white pus it was bacterial and he needed antibiotics.
The paramedic at the surgery said that even though yes there is white stuff they no longer give antibiotics unless he has a temperature or high heart rate.
Is this right and when did it start? Poor DS.
I fear Dr Google may have been american. 😁

If your child is old enough to gargle, without swallowing the fluid, dilute hydrogen peroxide will clear up bacterial throat infections v quickly without the need for antibiotics.

He could give a chlorhexidine mouthwash (like Corsodyl - the proper one, not the everyday one) a go?

It's antibacterial and designed to help with healing existing wounds in your mouth - I use it a lot for ulcers but it's also got rid of oral thrush and (mild) tonsillitis for me before.

The alcohol free one is a lot less... intense... than the alcohol one!

Thanks for all the tips and advice.

That worries me. I got sepsis and nearly died because of a strep B throat infection that my GP wouldn’t even look at because ‘it ‘s not worth looking at, it will get better on it’s own’.

Years ago I ended up with Quinsy as I didn't have anti biotics from the first GP I saw. I was thoroughly told off by the send one I saw for not seeking help beforehand 🙄

I've just got over tonsillitis, it seems to be rife at the minute
The last 2 times they've given me penicillin and it hasn't worked, and I've ended up on clarithromycin (grim)
Am immunocompromised so antibiotics are necessary for mine

I absolutely agree with this. It’s very worrying actually. In your DS’s case though OP as it’s gone on so long and he’s not improving I’d be taking him back. I’m sure the NHS website for sore throats will say the same after 5 days.

This might sound silly, and I have no idea why this could be the case... but DD had tonsillitis last week - classic red tonsils with white spots, but her fever followed a weird pattern.

I'd expect a person's temp to be highest under the tongue, then on the forehead, with the armpit being the coolest.

In DD's case her armpit temp was 40' (wearing a t-shirt, not bundled up), whereas her forehead was only 38.2'.

I guess what I'm saying, @Pimpernella is, have you tried taking his armpit temp?

Yeah - did do armpit.
He vomited again last night.

The GP couldn't see him. He has deteriorated today and now is showing with an actual temperature.

Walk in centre said 2 hour wait ring 111 to arange a sooner apointment as he is so ill.
111 says they will ring back in 2 hours so DH has taken him now before it gets any busier.

What a system - people feeling their very worst get to sit for hours.

We were in A&E a couple of months ago. There was an old lady with a broken wrist in a wheelchair and a grey, poorly child in the waiting room when we got in at 11pm. To my horror they were still there waiting when we went up to the ward the next morning . 😕😕

Must be so demoralising for the people trying to work there too.

They are now on their way to A&E.

He has this like you Mrs P.

I feel absolutely awful - many of you tried to tell me. 😢

@grey12 I have very rarely needed antibiotics thankfully, however there is a huge difference between viral and bacterial tonsillitis. The first your body can generally fight off, the second is beyond grim; whenever I’ve had it I’ve lost at least a stone in weight , I literally can’t function , extremely high temp , physically sick, my throat is covered in white spots and swells up so much . I’ve had3 dcs without pain relief and severe bacteria tonsillitis is still way worse. Also if you listen to the “your body will fight off the bacterial infection in your throat “ you might end up severely ill with quinsy throat on IV antibiotics, I know this from experience as the bacterial spreads down your throat .
I swear so , so many plp have clearly never suffered from proper bacteria tonsillitis, I genuinely felt once that it might kill me. It’s beyond grim . Op of your dc has a high temp , isn’t getting better after 3 days and seems v unwell I would definitely get them penicillin.

The nhs advice is so ridiculously contradictory to tonsillitis . Big red flags to bacterial , white spots are sortof stringy and long on tonsils, high temp, very bad breath, swollen glands.

Tonsillitis is at its worst the first 5 days. Antibiotics will do very little and most cases of antibiotics aren’t helped by antibiotics anyway. It is awful though, I know 😕

I'm the same, I've never had viral tonsillitis
They're usually printing off a prescription 2 seconds after looking in my throat with a face of "ew"
It was so bad once as an adult that I had to get my dad to drive me to OOH and the doctor said how much pain I must be in

Thanks
Walk in centre sent him to A&E.
He is there now getting treatment. 😕

And some fucking antibiotics! 😡

Bloody hell I hope your DS is feeling better.

I took DS 11 to the GP's for tonsillitis today. A little bit of white pus visible but his tonsils and glands are severely inflamed and they prescribed Clarithromycin without issues.

Such a weird postcode lottery with the NHS.

Should a paramedic be doing these appointments? I don't know.

A baby with a high temp, person with chest pains trumps a broken bone any day in A&E any day as a broken bone is rarely life threatening just painful

In a word No

You'll know better next time and fight for those much needed and necessary antibiotics

They're always a bit weird when it comes to a sore throat

But in your case the fever and pus was an obvious red flag 🚩 for ABX

At least you finally went and he got what he needed

He might even being on fluids if he's dehydrated from not being able to eat and drink from the pain and burning up from the fever

By fluids I mean an IV drip

Glad he is getting treatment OP.

I have tonsillitis at the moment and can’t get abs. But pp is right - the only thing that brings temporary instant relief is gargling with Peroxyl. Would thoroughly recommend.

hope he feels better soon. X

Yes - he must be dehydrated as he was spitting out his spit let alone drinking.
They are lancing now and making decision about a drip or not.
If drip - I have to swap with DH and stay. Noooooo! 😬

Though I guess I'd rather he felt better quicker after everything. 😔