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Children's health

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Original poster

DD 5 has swollen lymph glands for over a week, refuses to take antibiotics, HELP!

16 replies

hazlinh · 07/12/2009 12:44

DD, 5, has had swollen lymph glands for over a week now. Doc gave antibiotics when she first had it, but it hasn't cleared up, so he gave another round of antibiotics today. But she's refused to take it at all. Just spent an hour and a half coaxing, cajoling, bribing and threatening her to take it but she has refused point blank!! She usually hates taking any medicine anyway, but she managed to finish the last round, with lots of milk each time. Am at wits end. Is there an alternative to oral antibiotics, does anyone know? Or is it safe to skip the antibiotics? Will the swollen glands go down by itself? HELP!

OP posts:

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MollieO · 07/12/2009 12:48

Ds is 5 and gets syrup rather than tablets - I've not heard of a GP prescribing tablets that young. We use a syringe if he is reluctant to take them. Maybe you could get the tablets changed for a liquid version.

LadyOfTheFlowers · 07/12/2009 12:51

If the medicine is liquid - which it should be for a 5yr old surely? - I would 'administer' it with a syringe also.

Original poster

hazlinh · 07/12/2009 12:51

oh sorry, didn't make myself clear, it IS the syrup version indeed, but she is not taking any of it

OP posts:

alypaly · 07/12/2009 12:56

which antibiotic is it.....

Original poster

hazlinh · 07/12/2009 13:00

Zinnat..

OP posts:

pagwatch · 07/12/2009 13:06

I don't know if this will help....

DS2 has SN and has to take all sorts of things. Initially he refused and i wailed a lot.
Then I wondered what I would do if he had to take it or he would die.
I know that sounds extreme btw but it illustrated to me that I was approaching him with the medicine as a request when I needed to approach him with the calm determination that made him understand that whilst i would help make it palatable he HAD to take it.
My demeanour changed and he picked that up.

FWIW what would you do if the medicine was vital? What if this was a med for epilepsy or for a heart condition? You should tell her calmly that this is not a discussion and she must take it or X will happen but that when she takes it she will get x reward.

alypaly · 07/12/2009 13:32

gosh zinnat ,thats a powerful one....you can only get that in the one flavour too. sorry know suggestions other than same as pagwatch

alypaly · 07/12/2009 13:32

gosh zinnat ,thats a powerful one....you can only get that in the one flavour too. sorry no suggestions other than same as pagwatch

Original poster

hazlinh · 07/12/2009 13:38

pagwatch thanks for the suggestions, have already tried promising her rewards, and also taking away privileges if she refuses to take it, but it's not getting anywhere. i did change my tone towards the end, and really became serious and perhaps even scary but she just stood her ground, though she became visibly upset

alypaly, perhaps he gave a powerful one this time around it's because the first round of antibiotics didn't manage to clear it up? i don't know...

thanks for listening...

OP posts:

Original poster

hazlinh · 09/12/2009 03:13

hi all, just a quick update, took her to paed's again, and paed says her fever seems to be settling down and the lymph nodes are not getting bigger, so he suggested to wait 3 days and if fever doesn't improve, then she'll need daily antibiotic injections. surprising as it may sound, dd seemed ok with the prospect

OP posts:

mummytopebs · 09/12/2009 09:29

If persuasion with sweets doesnt work i usually put dd medicine in yogurts of choc mousse or angel delight and she doesnt know it is there x Good luck

Helinher30s · 09/12/2009 12:19

Hi,
Have you tried Cefalexin antibiotics. I have the same problem with my son and this is the only one he will take.. It does taste nice and may be suitable for her as its a good all round antibiotic - wide spectrum... it took me a long time to find it and docs dont seem to realise that its the best tasting one for children who refuse point blank to take the other ones.. hope it all works out...

Original poster

hazlinh · 10/12/2009 08:25

mummytopebs, that sounds like a good idea..i didn't try choc mousse or angel delight, but i have tried mixing it with her milk, usually it works but not this time. i also tried ribena.

Helinher30s, I shall definitely remember Cefalexin for next time! Sounds promising. DD does like to take phenergan, so it's not all meds (altho it is MOST of them). Thanks for the tip...

OP posts:

alypaly · 10/12/2009 09:18

why is she taking pheneragn for swollen glands

Original poster

hazlinh · 11/12/2009 06:43

hi alypaly, she's not taking phenergan at the moment, i was just mentioning that she does like to take it (when she needs it) so it's not as if she refuses to take ALL meds!

OP posts:

TheFoosa · 11/12/2009 08:14

my dd is like this.

I use the syringe that you get with the Nurafen, so shoot it straight down the back of the throat and strong tasting drink at the ready, usually lemonade because she LOVES it but is for rare occasions only

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