Penicillin for toddler with tonsillitis - side effects?

[MoragG]

Posting here, as no responses when I posted in Children's health :-(

DD (2.2) was diagnosed with tonsillitis on Fri pm. She was prescribed penicillin. However, since staring taking this she has now developed diarrhoea :-( I know this is a possible side effect of penicillin. Does anyone know if this is likely to go on through the whole 10 day course? If so, should I try and get a different prescription? Or give it a bit longer to see if the diarrhoea settles down? I feel terrible that the medicine that is supposed to be helping her is now making her ill in a different way. I can't let her have diarrhoea for 10 days, as it is also affecting her eating and she would be utterly miserable. Any advice?

Diarrhoea is a normal side effect of antibiotics - all of them. Generally the alternatives to penicillin cause even more diarrhoea so not a good idea to switch.

Try getting her to have some natural yoghurt every day to replace the good bacteria in her gut.

We usually give dd actimel kids when she has antibiotics. Seems to help with the upset stomach. It's not very nice but as pp said v common.

Thanks both. Does this mean that the diarrhoea will continue throughout the 10 day course? This would be a major problem, as she would not be able to go to nursery even if she is otherwise well.

Hard to tell. The probiotics always stop dd from having diarrhoea. It's tricky because obviously you want the best antibiotics but not ones that make them unwell!

Thanks. Will give the probiotics a go!

Switch, I always have for the kids and no problem, at least ask for a phone call with gp.