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Original poster

Child refusing much needed antibiotics! Advice please

43 replies

Jazz48235 · 24/12/2023 15:45

Hi all.

My 3 year old has got tonsillitis.

I was up all night last night worrying/calling 111 and not taking my eyes off him as he seemed really poorly and temp was up to 40.
We got seen earlier today and dr has confirmed tonsillitis, we have all just had Covid as well.

Here is my next problem...
He won't take the antibiotics. He is allergic to penicillin so can't have the usual banana flavoured liquid, instead he has clarithromysin which tastes gross and has a weird 'bitty' texture.
I haven't been able to give him a single dose yet.
I've tried mixing it with milk, yogurt and ice cream, but he's refusing everything. It's like he knows...and I feel like I'm wasting all the medicine!

I'm not sure what else I can do, I've even struggled to get calpol and ibuprofen into him with this illness when normal that isn't an issue.
If I force it he spits it out, even if sleeping.

Any suggestions??
Many thanks

OP posts:
rochenutty · 24/12/2023 15:52

say to him he will get an early christmas present if he takes tonight

cansu · 24/12/2023 15:52

Have you tried that baby fruit puree? With dd I used to use this. It is very liquid so blends well.

Fipfop · 24/12/2023 15:55

Chocolate button after each dose?

herbygarden · 24/12/2023 16:00

My son is 6, so a bit easier to reason with, he's just been in hospital and sent home with two lots of antibiotics. One is this same gritty horrible one! He gets upset but a carton of apple juice, drink before, give a bit, apple juice, bit more, apple juice etc. not fun though! I wish you luck!! I am dreading each dose!

Sprogonthetyne · 24/12/2023 16:00

Well my suggestion was going to be yogurt, so not much use there but at the end of the day he's 3, he doesn't know what's good for him, so it's not in his remit to choose/refuse.

If it comes to it you're going to have to pin him down and get it in. I'd wrap a towel or blanket around him to help keep his arms down, then hold him on your knee, with his head leaning on one shoulder or upper arm (don't leave his head up or you'll get a backwards headbutt to the face). Have the medicine prepared in a syringe, then shove it in. Even if he clamps his teeth shut, you can get the syringe down the outside of his cheek, then squeeze as far back as you can. Hold his mouth shut until it's go e down, or possibly offer a carton of juice to wash it down if he's willing.

If that still fails, I've heard of some parents using suppositorie paracetamol for kids who won't take calpol. You could ask if there's an alternative form of the antibiotics, if you think it will be easier getting it in the other end.

wideawakeinthemiddleofthenightagain · 24/12/2023 16:00

Get the dose in the syringe.
Lie him on the floor on his back. Kneel over him so one knee is either side of his body, pinning his arms to his body. Tilt his head back and then hold his nose with one hand forcing him to open his mouth to breathe.
Put the syringe in and shoot the medicine into the back of his mouth. As soon as the dose is done, clamp your hand over his mouth, sitting him up at the same time.
Brutal but effective!

coldcallerbaiter · 24/12/2023 16:01

That liquid is gross, never understood the need for it. A dissolvable pill would be easier for parents. We had to hold one down, 3 adults needed for a toddler, and syringe it in the corners of a tight shut mouth, he would have eaten a pill.

GetDownkeith · 24/12/2023 16:05

wideawakeinthemiddleofthenightagain · 24/12/2023 16:00

Get the dose in the syringe.
Lie him on the floor on his back. Kneel over him so one knee is either side of his body, pinning his arms to his body. Tilt his head back and then hold his nose with one hand forcing him to open his mouth to breathe.
Put the syringe in and shoot the medicine into the back of his mouth. As soon as the dose is done, clamp your hand over his mouth, sitting him up at the same time.
Brutal but effective!

This!
It is brutal but if they are that unwell the only way.
When ds1 was just about 3 he was in hospital on a drip because he had tonsillitis and wpildnt drink. They had talked a out iv antibiotics since he was on a drip anyway. When he'd perked up by morning with more fluid they had decided to discharge him as pinning him down for a few seconds was probably overall less traumatic than forcing him to stay in bed in a drip for a day or 2.

It is horrible but if they are that ill you just have to get it in any way you can.

margegunderson · 24/12/2023 16:11

My mum used to crush aspirin in a spoonful of jam (aspirin was deemed OK for children in the dark ages)

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 24/12/2023 16:13

He’s 3. He needs the antibiotics. I’m in the pin him to the floor and force him camp.

if you blow on their face then it triggers the swallow reflex and they have to swallow. Top tip from a friend who is a vet for puppies, works for humans!

MissBuffyAnneSummers · 24/12/2023 16:15

Get tough with the syringe. And then give Ice cream - it will soothe his throat too

everhopefulagain · 24/12/2023 16:17

To all the hold him down and force him comments - I was desperate with my 4 year old (same drug) and he vomited it back up almost instantly.
Ruined all chances of him having another dose, let alone the full course.

I'd avoid force if at all possible.

Supersimkin2 · 24/12/2023 16:19

Syringe - don’t try and squirt it in, squirt it in.

ice cream. He’s 3. It’s not his call.

No doc will see you if he gets worse cos he hasn’t been medicated.

paranoidmumdroid1 · 24/12/2023 16:20

That particular antibiotic is the foulest thing i have ever tasted when my youngest dc needed it. Nothing like any of the antibiotics we'd ever had before and certainly nothing like any of the penicillin family.

Dc had two large chocolate buttons and some orange jiuce immediately after every dose.
As did i when i accidentally licked the syringe once. I gagged.

pickledandpuzzled · 24/12/2023 16:23

That’s a horrid one. Apparently the dry powder is actually easier to hide than the liquid.
I’d try jam.

The problem is the number of wasted doses as you experiment!

Does he use a straw? That can help get the medicine further back in the mouth, in a strong drink like milkshake.

pickledandpuzzled · 24/12/2023 16:23

Or spoon feed him ice cream and sneak a medicine spoon in. Between bites!

Original poster
Jazz48235 · 24/12/2023 16:24

Thank you everyone.
I've forced a dose down, quite a bit came back out but I'm counting that as a dose.
It was horrendous and traumatic, can't quite imagine having to do that twice a day for 5 days...

If I gave him one at 4.15 and it's two doses a day can I get another one in tonight or is it best to leave it until tomorrow?

OP posts:
nottodaytomorrow · 24/12/2023 16:27

Lie down flat syringe and aim for back of throat.. if compromising isn't working. End of the day its that or cannular and drips when the situation gets out of hand because they haven't had antibiotics.

nottodaytomorrow · 24/12/2023 16:29

Jazz48235 · 24/12/2023 16:24

Thank you everyone.
I've forced a dose down, quite a bit came back out but I'm counting that as a dose.
It was horrendous and traumatic, can't quite imagine having to do that twice a day for 5 days...

If I gave him one at 4.15 and it's two doses a day can I get another one in tonight or is it best to leave it until tomorrow?

Understand the trauma but trust me watching consultants and nursers forcing cannulars into them is so much worse.

KeepGoingThomas · 24/12/2023 16:33

Syringe slowly into the gum at the back of the mouth between his cheek and teeth. If you get the right place and do it slowly enough it can’t be spat out either.

SunshineIndoors123 · 24/12/2023 16:34

Fruit puree pouches. I got antibiotics down mine mixing it in with the fruit puree baby weaning pouches. Mine had also refused when I'd mixed with yogurt, jam and chocolate spread. The fruit worked.

MargaretThursday · 24/12/2023 16:34

Ds hated banana medicine and was an expert in not actually eating it. There's a yellow splat in front of me from a failed attempt a long time ago. Eventually I worked out the best way for him.

Catch him and wrap him in arms/towel/anything to hold him as still as possible.
Put medicine in his mouth, keeping his chin slightly tipped upwards. Put chocolate button in and hold firm until swallowed.

It feels horrible, but it's better than the alternative. Although for some reason ds would still prefer to go on a drip than take antibiotics orally. He finds them fascinating for some reason.

MarthaJonesPhone · 24/12/2023 16:38

My DS has just finished 2 courses of revolting antibiotics. He's allergic to Penicillin too.

What worked for us was raspberry yoghurt. So a bit of yogurt then some antibiotic then yoghurt again until finished.

HavfrueDenizKisi · 24/12/2023 16:43

wideawakeinthemiddleofthenightagain · 24/12/2023 16:00

Get the dose in the syringe.
Lie him on the floor on his back. Kneel over him so one knee is either side of his body, pinning his arms to his body. Tilt his head back and then hold his nose with one hand forcing him to open his mouth to breathe.
Put the syringe in and shoot the medicine into the back of his mouth. As soon as the dose is done, clamp your hand over his mouth, sitting him up at the same time.
Brutal but effective!

Absolutely this I'm afraid.

He needs the antibiotics and is too young to understand or reason with. So this is the only way.

Speaking as a mum who had to give daily antibiotics to my first DD from birth.

ResisterRex · 24/12/2023 16:47

We had this with something gross-tasting. Can't remember what. But we did a "stripe" of liquids:

X ml cough syrup
X ml horrid antibiotics
X ml cough syrup

It is a pain as it's more work but it worked. You have to preload the syringes and have them to hand on a plate. I'm sure we had to do two syringes of whatever the proper amount was. Good luck!!