How long before antibiotics kick in if they are going to?

[Polgara2]

DD2 has had bad headaches since last week, they appear to be sinus (temple, below eye, worse when bend head forward). Took her to docs yesterday and he agreed and gave us some antibiotics but admitted they may or may not work. Soooooooooo when will they kick in if they ARE going to work? AND if they are not going to what can I do to help her? She is on max dose paracetamol and ibuprofen and is still in pain. Am getting very stressed and headachy myself now because I feel helpless.

Usually 24 to 48 hours - IME closer to 48 hours.

Oh do you think so Soupdragon, she started them yesterday morning so there is time yet then. I can feel myself getting a bit panicky (but then I have been combatting health anxiety issues for years so may not be a particularly good yardstick ). Thanks.

Definitely give them 48 hours, Your poor DD

My DS had chronic sinus problems a few years back and it took 2 lot of antibiotics to work, but he had it for 6 months before they decided it was sinuses and gabe hime the ABs.
He had another bout before christmas and it took 2 days for the abs to work.
Is she old enough for a steam cup with some olbas oil in it?

Yes, she is 8 christy. What is a steam cup though? Sorry to be ignorant! Does it help? What sort of symptoms did your DS have? Sorry lots of questions but am at a loss what to do for her.

steam cup

We put olbas oil in it.
DS's symptoms are usually just headache and bad breath. It took an MRI scan to diagnose it the first time.

Thanks christywhisty. Will get one. Which antibiotics worked? DD is on amoxycillin but she is currently still complaining.

6 months is an awfully long time to have a headache, was it intermittent? You must have been very worried by the time it got to the MRI stage.

I think it was amoxycillan.
He started having headaches in May/June (start of hayfever season) I took him to the GP but becaue he didn't have a snotty nose and his face wastn't tender they didn't think it was sinuses, but because he was still having febrile convulsions at 8 they referred him to a paediatrician. They decided to give him an EEG, MRI scan and full eye check out which took until december to sort out.
He was miserable at school, waking up with headaches although adult strengh nurofen shifted them.
The MRI scan showed he had an infection in the left maxillia (sp). They finally gave him AB's which did clear it up but it started to come back so he needed a second dose which cleared it up completely. Just wish they had given him the abs back in June
At christmas again he didn't have all the classic symptoms but I reminded GP it took MRI scan to diagnose him last time and he agreedto give him ab's and it took about 2 days for him to feel better.

Sorry, meant to say I hope your dd feels better, sinus problems are miserable and painful.

Your poor ds christywhisty! What a lot for an 8 year old to go through.

It does sound very similar to dd2, she is miserable and worse at school, because she has to be putting her head down to work and that makes it worse. She is also 8. Interesting about the adult strength nurofen - didn't realise they could have them at that age. Were you told to given him them? The children's medicines are certainly not touching her headaches.

I will try the inhalation and give the ab's a bit longer. Did you find any other things helped beside the inhalation?

If no improvement soon I will go back to docs. I can't keep her off school too long but hate to see her so miserable and in pain .

We always dosed by weight because of the febrile convulsions and a child is allowed up to 10g a kilo. Just looked it up and he was 32kilos on his 9th birthday, so he was allowed upto 3 x 200g-300 mg a day. We only gave him one tablet in the morning when it was particularly bad so not every day. You have to look at the packet as you get different strengths but the one we have is 200g, so i tablet was ok.

Well she is currently tucked up in her duvet on the settee watching Mary Poppins. Says her head is no better . I looked on the adult nurofen but it said not to give to children under 12? Have given her about 250 mg of ibuprofen suspension and 500 mg paracetamol but it doesn't seem to be doing much so far, again.

Anyone any suggestions for sinus relief? Tried olbas oil inhalation last night with no noticable difference.

Am starting to stress that it may not be sinus and be something serious (rational thinking not being my strong point at the moment!)

How is she now?

sorry your DD is unwell. When I had amoxycillin for a chest infection, it didn't really start to kick in until day 4 or 5.

Well it has kicked in at last. Wahoo I am getting my happy little girl back!!!!!!The painkillers are actually having an effect now so as long as she is having the nurofen she is more normal again. (Although I have to confess I had forgotten how loud she is - wouldn't have her any other way.) Hopefully she won't need it at all soon. All she has to do now is avoid getting her sister's flu!

Thanks for all the advice and about the painkiller christywhisty, the extra clout made a big difference. It's always really helpful and reassuring to speak to someone who has experienced what is troubling you.

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