Should I give DD the antibiotics she has been prescribed??

[JoPG]

After 5 days of whingeing and high temeprature and 5 sleepless nights I took DD (age 22 months) to the doctor's today. She agreed that DD was very run down and poorly, but believed it to be a virus. However, she prescribed antibiotics cos she said that she could easily pick something up in her current state. I'm now not sure whether to give them to her or not. She has never had antibiotics before and I don't want to give them unnecesarily, but we are off to Center Parcs on Monday and I don't want her being poorly then.
What to do???

Personally I would give them but then I am the type who would be disappointed if I wasn't given them by the doc for something like you describe.

I would hang on to the prescription and take it with you. That way, if you feel she needs it, you can get it made up without having to go to a dr first.

hmm...what I think when reading that post...

Antibiotics won't treat a viral infection (but you know that anyway)
Different antibiotics would be given dependent on the infection she picked up (although some are fairly 'broad spectrum' - so how do they know which infection she might get and therefore which antibiotics she might need IYSWIM
Taking antibiotics unnecesssarily will affect the balance of the bacteria that natuarlly live with her (e.g. gut) and can predispose a child to fungal infectiosn (as bacteria keep fungi at bay).

If as your post reads you genuinely feel they have been prescribed to 'make you happy and send you on your way' I wouldn't give them.

What has she been prescribed?

I wouldn't give them in the circumstances you describe. I think the GP has given them to you because she thought that's what you wanted. As for them treating something she might pick up - that's only if she picks something up in the next few days so I really don't see the pint but my DC's are awful at taking AB's so I avoid them unless really neccessary!

She has been given amoxycillin

amoxicillin is one of the fairly broad spectrum ones. From what you say it isn't going to make her better. I wouldn't give it to her without reason.

Thankyou for all your answers.
Think I will hold fire and let the virus run its course.
She has had a 3.5 hour nap today (the most sleep she has had in a row in days) and she seems a lot brighter after it.
Sometimes I find you just end up in a vicious circle. They are poorly and find it difficult to sleep, but sleep is really what would be best for them.
Hopefully she will start to get better soon (with a bit of calpol to help bring down her temperature in the meantime)