more tonsillitis questions...not improving

[plusonemore]

Hi ds2 caught tonsillitis from ds1, started wednesday, got anti biotics on Thursday, he has been very up and down, often very pale, freezing hands and feet, temp of 38 plus, at other times very rosy cheeked and playing and laughing as normal. His tonsils are absolutely huge and have some white spots on. They just havent got any better looking at all. Surely by now there should be some improvement? Or is it just a bad case? Or could it be anything else? Am currently at inlaws as FIL very ill, home late tomorrow then of course its back to work (unless my sore throat develops into tonsillitis too that is!!) aaaarrrrggghhhhh!

I was told that sometimes it can take up to a week before the ABs start to work, and sometimes even after the course has stopped!

Hopefully they will start to work soon. Have you tried Nurofen to reduce the swelling?

It normally takes 48 hours for the abs to kick in. What make of AB have you got?

I would add, if you did not see any improvement within 4 days of starting the medicine, I would go back to the docs for a different type. My son has usually either been given Penicillin V or Amoxyciclin, both good ABs, but the Penicillin V has usually been kicking in sooner. Do give som calpol (or nurofen) to ease the pain and reduce the temperature.

Hi thanks, he is on penicilin, have been giving nurofen too. Think will take him back monday Xxx

If it was me, I'd consider getting him to an out-of-hours doc today. My son gets bad tonsilitis quite regularly and for him the anti-b's kick in fast (24/48 hours afterwards he's pretty much back to normal).

I seem to recall that on a few times the doc checked him for cold hands and feet - I have a vague recollection that it may be another possible early warning sign for meningitis. I'd err on the side of caution and either call NHS Direct(and give them the list of symptoms) or try to speak to out-of-hours doc by phone if nothing else.

Tonsilitis can actually be a viral infection or a bacterial infection. Antibiotics will only help if the infection is bacterial, so it could well be that yoru DS has a viral infection.

Make sure he is still taking fluids, lollyices are good if his throat is sore.
give him paracetamol between his dose nurofen, that way you can give him pain relief more often and it will control his temp better.
Carry on with the ABs
take him back to the doctors tommorrow if hes still bad

Hopefully he will be feeling slightly better today. (just noticed you posted yesterday)

My DS has a loads of tonsillitis a while ago and the last bout lasted 2 weeks, with him off colour for at least a week after that. It can be a long drawn out affair unfortunately.

It could be that it is viral but with spots on his tonsils the rule of thumb is that it is more likely to be bacterial so you have to keep going with the AB's really. At least finish the course.

Anti-b's can take several days to work ime. I think it probably depends on the severity of the infection how quickly they kick in. I have had DS get over it in 24 hours and, as I say, take over 2 weeks.

I would leave it a week from the last appointment and if he isn't better phone the doctors and have a chat. We got to the point that we were wondering if DS had glandular fever but thankfully he started to recover just about the time the doctor started talking blood tests.

I agree with loads of ice lollys - they are very popular in our house!