Scarlet fever outbreaks increasing - Drs being told to prescribe antibiotics MORE often?

[glasjam]

Just wanting to know what is happening in the rest of the UK with regards to the following issue.

I'm the sort of person who tries to steer clear of anti-bs where possible but not averse to taking them if I really have to. I've been caught out twice recently - once when I let tonsilitis go on just self-medicating with salt-gargles and paracetemol - unfortunately I ended up with an ear infection at the weekend and had to go to the out of hours surgery at the local hospital and was very grateful for the anti-bs (had to have two courses as the first 7 day one didn't shift it)

The second occasion was with my 4 year old son who's glands came up and we took him to the Dr who saw his tonsils and said it was tonsilitis but probably viral - didn't prescribe anti-bs and then he went on and developed scarlet fever. We were shocked at this diagnosis but apparantly it is a mild disease compared to what it was and clears up well with anti-bs.

Interestingly Scarlet Fever comes about with Strep type infections and as Drs are trying not to routinely dole out the anti-bs anymore it's becoming more common.

My Dr now informs me that the Public Health Authority (or whatever they're called) have recently issued a letter telling them to prescribe anti-biotics more often for tonsilitis and other infections because Scarlet Fever is on the rise.

I am in Scotland - is this just a localised/regional thing or has anyone experienced this elsewhere in the British Isles?

I don't know if it's policy, but I get the impression that the doctors here prescribe if they are pretty sure it's bacteria (lots of pus, or they've sent a sample away). DD1 got ABs for tonsilitis as they were "big and juicy", DD2 (at the same appointment) didn't ("just a bit red").

Triage nurses, who you usually get (unless you wait a week + for a doctor), seldom prescribe anything.

A similar thing happened to a friend of mine (we are down south). Her little boy was very poorly, got diagnosed with viral tonsilitis and then came out in a rash after 6 days due to scarlet fever. He got AB's from out of hours docs and went from being quite poorly to fine in 24 hours.

So no evidence of more AB's being prescribed down here.

From experience they prescribe for tonsilitis if there is pus but not if there is just redness but presumably you don't get pus with scarlet fever?

My dh is a GP in Scotland (argyll and clyde) and he hasn't mentioned this - usually does if it is something that might afect the family.

Of course he is sound asleep right now but will ask him in the morning!

I live in the South and my DS5 has had Scarlet Fever twice in the last year. He was prescribed ABs both times and our GP said they prescribe if there is any chance that it is Scarlet Fever.
It is the seriousness of the complications that can follow Scarlet Fever which make ABs so vital (Rheumatic Fever with associated heart problems and also kidney disease). It does seem to be on the increase and is certainly not rare as it was when my older DSs were little.

i'm in the east mdlands and there have recently been cases of scarlet fever here, 2 at ds's nursery, and i do think ds had it too, although gp was unsure. but he had typical symptoms, plus the rash, and a week after he got better, i came down with my first ever bout of tonsillitis!

i was given ab's but ds wasn't

Weegie Mum would be interested to hear whether your dh has heard of any upturn in Scarlet fever or a change in the recommendations for giving a-bs. To other posters who mention the rule of thumb about if the tonsils have pus or are "juicy" then dish out the abs but if they are red then it's just viral. I think that what happened to both my son and myself was that when we went to the doctors with our sore throats our tonsils were merely red raw and so the conclusion was that it was viral - however we both then went on to get infected/bacterial tonsilitis which would have required anti-bs.

But I find that going to the doctors is hassle enough and I always feel slightly guilty when I make an appointment and they ask if it's an emergency - a sore throat doesn't seem "an emergency" - I shan't be so cavalier about it in future!

Interesting, as both my DD and DS have been prescribed antibiotics for tonsilitis in the past week. Did think it was a bit strange as we usually get waved away saying its just a virus. I'm in the Midlands.

It is standard practice in the USA to prescribe ab's for "Strep Throat" aka tonsilitis. Mainly because they don't want you to get the complication - rheumatoid fever (heart problems) and Scarlet fever. I've never had ab's for that before and have had them twice since here.