Child tonsillitis

[ringmybe11]

Hoping for advice please from a fellow parent or someone with medical training. DS 2 came down with a slight fever Friday evening which worsened over night and we alternated ibuprofen and Calpol during sat to keep it at bay. We didn't quite get to maximum doses but they both wore off early so needing the other before the next dose was due. Only other real symptom was a nasty cough. I've called nursery and no significant bugs going round other than this cough and a couple of children with suspected tonsillitis.

Yesterday his nose started running and didn't seem to need as much medication as often so thought things were improving. Worsened again last night though with him waking at 3am boiling hot - temp of 39.6 the calpol lasted 3 hrs before back to the same temp at which point could give ibuprofen again. The temp does come down and when it's down he seems quite cheerful, will play and eat.

My question is how do you know if it's tonsillitis or something that needs antibiotics. We had a lot a lot of nasty viruses last winter that we just had to wait out. Haven't had the situation where we thought it was improving and then took a turn for the worse. I'm conscious we've got bank holidays coming up and I could call the doctor tomorrow but don't want to waste their time or take a kid with a virus into a waiting room with other people if it's not necessary.

Any advice welcome, sorry it's long

Tonsillitis you would see white spots on the back of the throat and you would also feel glands up in the neck.

its really hard to tell the difference between a virus and a bacterial infection that needs antibiotics at surface level and only after a few days… but I would say go with your gut… if something doesn’t feel right, no harm ever getting it checked by the dr.

my GP has often said if symptoms last longer than 10 days, it’s likely to need antibitoics. I personally always feel 10 days is way too long! I usually give it 5-7 days before I see a GP (with fevers and cold symptoms),

im not a medical person… just a mum of 3 xx

Tonsillitis often comes with tummy pain as well as swollen tonsils and a sore throat (red and usually white patches). Get them to open their mouth and out their tongue out flat and use your phone torch. Symptoms would also usually see them reduce/stop eating and maybe drinking depending how bad it is.

10-20 doses of Tonsillitis plus 1-3 of strep a each year here with my oldest. Our gp usually prescribes a 10 day course of antibiotics, sometimes we wait to see if it will resolve on its own if he's still drinking fluids.

I've recently had strep A and needed antibiotics (actually still on them and will have had 25 days worth, but that's another story). I've been to my local pharmacy twice. They've swabbed for strep A and prescribed antibiotics. Have a look at your local trust web page to see what they offer. Out trust has a list of pharmacies where you can get tested with prescribing pharmacists available.

Thanks very much each of you for replying. My gut tells me it isn't tonsillitis- I couldn't really get him to put his tongue flat to see properly but he is eating and drinking reasonably so can't be in that much pain. He hasn't complained at all other than the waking in the night boiling. I'll definitely have a look at local pharmacies tomorrow if there's no marked improvement, I didn't know about that. Thanks again