Amoxicillin for tonsillitis

[Cuppaandbiscuit]

Hi, my daughter had ear infection and tonsillitis beginning of January and we were prescribed 10 days of pen v. Two weeks later after finishing antibiotics and white spots are back and she’s poorly. We’ve been given 5 days of amoxicillin but another doctor said 10 days of pen v should be prescribed. I had already started the amoxicillin at this point though. Has amoxicillin worked for anyone’s child and was it a 5 or 7 day course? I originally thought it was good we were given amoxicillin as we had pen v before and the tonsillitis returned.

From my recollection, pen v is specifically for tonsillitis and should be 7-10 days ideally 10

My LO’s had Amoxicillin for ear & chest infections

The amoxicillin won’t do her any harm, but would target more ears/chest. Ideally second line for tonsillitis would be clarithromycin. If she’s had pen V in the last few weeks and bacterial tonsillitis has returned, she probably needs the second line

Amoxicillin is a broader spectrum penicillin than Pen V, it wouldn't be worse at treating infection under any circumstances. For tonsillitis the philosophy of a longer course (whichever antibiotics is chosen) is to suppress streptococcus (which is naturally present in the throat in many people) so there is less recurrent transmission within households.

I had strep throat for 6 weeks, Pen V did nothing, GP kept saying it was viral. I have never felt so ill. Begged them to do a swab - eventually they relented after 6 weeks of fever, vomiting, horrible gunk all over tonsils. Report came back from hospital, resistant to Pen V (surprise!), 3 days of zithromax, cured. Why they are so determined not to take a swab to get the right ABx, I have no idea.

Yes I’m hoping the amoxicillin will work. I would just feel better with a 7 day course and not 5. I think I was prescribed a 7 day course when I had tonsillitis a few years ago. Im not a doctor though!