What is the problem with not completing a course of antibiotics?

[Picante]

E.g. if child has had 2 doses and you think they are getting better and don't need any more?

they do not respond well to them if they have the abx again i think.

Even if they have had only 2 spoons?

It encourages the bacteria to become resistant to that antibiotic.

Because if you don't complete the course you can't guarantee that all the bacteria causing the illnes have been destroyed. Only that enough have to ease the symptoms. The ones that have not been killed with the 2 doses will be the stronger strains and will multiply, so the symptoms will return but the anti-b will be less effective. Continue like this with lots of people and you end up with antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Complete the course.

what juule said!
definitely finish the course

2 spoons, hmm, I'm not sure about that,

what is it, what's it for and how long is the course meant to be?

Ok will do, thanks.

It's the yellow fridge one, amoxycillin I think. He had conjunctivitis which then gave him tonsilitis (always gets tonsilitis when he's got something else). He was poorly yesterday but today he's been eating much better. Gave first dose this morning.

Course is 3 x a day for 5 days.

Hang on - not necessarily. Yes I agree if you've had a couple of days' worth, but antibiotic overuse is also a big problem and I would think two doses is near enough not properly started. Especially if you feel the child would have been better already, and they weren't the right thing/ helping.

X posts - will read yours! hold up.

What Juuule said. People not finishing their courses is one of the reasons we have so many drug-resistant bugs.

How do his tonsils look?

I have no experience of tonsilitis but if he was getting much better before you began the course, I'd be inclined to leave it.

Recurrence can be a big problem with tonsils, and this is propagated by repeated courses of a/b's so if you can break the cycle and allow the body to fight back, it might be better.

I would speak to the doctor who prescribed them personally, if you can.

(I do know about resistance and usually finishing course is better but when it's hardly been started, I'd hesitate)

Generally speaking yes, you should always finish the course once you've begun it properly.

(I did much research into resistance last year as a result of having a resistant illness myself - so am a bit of a bore on the subject!!)

Thanks Helen. Luckily I know the person who prescribed them so will text her.

Brilliant

Can you let us know? I'd be interested.

She said it's not good practice but to stop for a day or two to make sure he's better, and if he goes downhill again to start them again, but definitely finish the course.