horrendous tonsillitis again and again

[lubblyjubblies]

DD (7) has had ongoing issues with ear infections and tonsillitis. Normal pattern runs sore throat, temp, antibiotics and a month or two of good health. 3 weeks ago she developed a nasty tonsillitis and within 36 hours of first sore throat complaint she was unable to swallow even water and temp was raging. As we were on holiday at the time an emergency appointment led to antibiotics. Finished the A/B's. 5 days later same again but even quicker . Complained of a sore throat at bedtime, by morning was awfully bad. Saw another emergency doc who prescribed a different A/B which soon picked her up. She finished the meds yesterday morning. She is now crying with throat pain, has slept half the day and temp is raging again. Tonsils are swelling by the minute and I feel sure by morning they will be dripping nastiness again. Poor child. She has black bags under her eyes where she is waking so often in the night, and I strongly suspect sleep apnea as I cant even see the back of her throat anymore. I have spent a small fortune on calpol and nurofen, reckon she has had a least one dose a day,every day for over 3 weeks. She has had a miserable few weeks and I know even if we make it through tonight she will need a doc tomorrow.
Any ideas on what to expect/demand tomorrow when I no doubt go back to docs?

The only 'cure' is removal. I had the same thing as a child and they were removed at age 6 ~ best thing to have happened. My cousin's Ds was the same and his were removed a few months ago and no more problems. She did have to insist and make a fuss though as they really don't want to take them out these days.

I had tonsillitis so much as a child and still get it a few times a year now. I didn't have them out as a child, apparently because the waiting list was 2 years long and I "would have grown out of it by then" . All I can say is that I wish I had had them out. I'm planning to get them taken out once the DDs are a bit bigger.

I always had tonsillitis a lot as a child and finally when I was 10 I had the same as your daughter and lost a continuous 3 weeks of school because of it. I had my tonsils removed a few months later. It was around that time doctors stopped whipping them out as standard which is why I think I was 10 before they actually took them out.

I am sure that I heard somewhere that a longer course of antibiotics can sometimes be needed with persistent tonsilitis to really nip it in the bud. I assume she is only getting 1 week supply at the moment - maybe she needs 10 days?? I know its not ideal giving antibiotics for that long but it seems current course just is not shifting it! I feel your pain - tonsilitis is absolutely awful!!!! Hope she gets better soon.

ask for an ENT referal

Went to docs today and she has now started a 10 day course of penicillin. We are waiting for a referral for ENT also. The GP did say they were unlikely to remove tonsils just for tonsillitis but paired with the fact her glue ear is worse than ever, they may remove them if they redo grommets. I truly hope so, its terrible watching her suffer.