Been prescribed antibiotics for DS but not sure whether to use...

[MegBusset]

DS (8mo) has a nasty ear/nose/throat infection, with a high temp since Tues and lots of crying. We've been treating with Calpol/Nurofen, went to the GP today who prescribed amoxicillin, saying that "Some doctors don't prescribe antibiotics because they think babies should get better on their own, but I do because it helps them get better".

I've always been a bit wary of using abs unless strictly necessary, because of the effect on the good flora in the body and also because of diseases becoming immune to them, so debating whether to use them on DS. Also surely it's possible his illness is viral so they wouldn't help anyway. BUT he is so miserable that part of me thinks I should give them just in case. So interested to hear what other people would do...

I'd go with the GP on this one. He isn't getting any better quickly on his own, so maybe the ABs will help.

Hmmm difficult one.

Ears deffo heal themselves. What makes the GP say he has a throat infection? Are there white patches or is it just a bit swollen. White patches = deffo bacterial IIRC. Otherwise, agree could be viral = Abs no use
If it was chest I would without a doubt say take them, but I am sitting on the fence with you (sorry no help). If it was me I would maybe see if he seems any better tomorrow and then make a decision. My GP always say that these type of infections peak at about day 3-5 (which would be tomorrow-Sun?) and that if there is no improvment after 5 days then he will give ABs.

TBH Amoxy use isn't going to contribute to drug resistance. It's use is so widespread already.

Sorry I am going to disappear now as my bum is getting splinters on this fence

my ds, also 8 months has just been prescribed amoxicillin earlier this week - has had v nasty cough for 3 weeks. GP said it could be viral but as ds was obviously uncomfortable and not sleeping he advised we give him it, which we have. He's now much more settled.

Its up to you, but ds sounds like a poor soul!

Slightly daft thing for your GP to say, TBH - the antibiotic will only help them get better if it's a bacterial infection.

I think it'd be reasonable to hold off and see how he goes overnight tonight. A lot of GPs nowadays will give you a prescription with the advice to use it if they don't get any better over the next 24-48 hours or so.

I don't agree with overuse of antibiotics, but there is a time and place when they are necessary. I would follow the advice of the doctor who has examined your child. IME GPs are reluctant to prescribe ABs unless they really think they are necessary, and personally I would not take a risk with something like an ear infection. The complications are too serious.

I have 3 dcs aged from 8 to 18, and they have had 5 courses of antibiotics between them in their whole lives. But for an ear infection, yes I would give them.

I really hope your ds gets well soon.

Ooh, Meg - how are things?

I just ran a search on this because we have a similar issue.
We've had rotten colds, and mine sort of mutated into an ear infection. I got some amoxicillin and it worked a treat.
Now dd's cold appears to have spread to her throat/chest, and she is really unhappy.

I am taking her to the docs this am.
Part of me is horrified at the thought of her having anti-b's at 8mths. But I feel like a hypocrite to deny her the medication as it worked so well for me.

I'm really not sure what to do, even if we do get a prescription......
How did things pan out with you?

I wouldn;t necessarily. Just because ds3 spent a night in hospital last year with the same (2 raging ear infections causing the most problem) and they absolultely would not give him antibiotics (which was fine by me, I didn't want them) without a positive swab. I tend to trust peadiatricians more than GP's. GP's I find vary considerably still.

I would worry more about a chest infection.

In your situation I would probably have asked for an antibiotic script, and asked him to swab the throat (strep throat obviously would need antibs, but most are viral), then kept the antibs ready to use either if the swab came back positive or if he got worse.

Oh just seen the last post- that's what I would do BarryScott. Ask for a script to use if there's no improvement and ask for a swab. We have had lots of problems with ds1 having had too many antibiotics as a baby (he had shed loads though) which is why I'm cautious, BUT you don't mess around with chest infections in babies. Again could well be viral, but with a chest infection in a baby I'd probably want a prescription handy (even if I held off for another 12-24 hours).

I agree with TMMJ

an 8 month old with a burst eardrum sounds worse than the risk of taking ab for 5 days. My ds is nearly 2 had ab for an ear infection this week and he is old enough to tell me how much it hurts, if anything give ibuprofen at least it has an anti-inflammatory that will ease the inflammation.

The trouble is that various studies now suggest that antibiotics don't make that much difference in most cases of ear infections and GPs should only prescribe them in more severe cases.

See here www.sign.ac.uk/guidelines/fulltext/66/section3.html

Hope ds is feeling better BTW Meg

Morning all and hi Baz, sorry DD is poorly

DS has made almost a full recovery now, we held off giving the antibiotics on Thursday, and on Friday morning he woke up much better, with the fever having gone completely. Since then he has just had a bit of snuffling and a cough, but been back to his normal cheery self. (DH has had the same thing and he too has had a lingering cough that is just now starting to clear.)

TBH if he had stayed poorly then we would have given him the ABs, it's not the end of the world to have them once, I'm sure loads of babies have them more often.

Fab news Meg
I agree, AB's are not the end of the world, but its nice to do without if it doesn't cause the LOs any grief.

Good news Meg.

Mildmanneredjanitor - some GPs do tend to over-prescribe antibiotics. And I am doctor BTW.