Should I give my 10 month old antibiotics? I'm thinking not.....

[happilyeverafta]

Hi all,

My 10 month old DD started nursery in September and ever since she’s had a chesty cough, snotty nose and cough. It is up and down, have taken her to the doctors twice, no temp, no rattle on her chest and doctor said it’s viral and will take a while to go. I am giving her cough mixture and Vic’s on her feet etc.

He prescribed antibiotics on the first visit but I’ve not given them to her as of yet.

My DM is of course worrying me saying she needs them now but I genuinely think it’s just the ‘nursery illnesses’ and taking a while to go?

So Oh Wise Mumsnetters WWYD?

DD started nursery 2 months ago and it's been NON STOP SNOT. It's disgusting but my GP told us it's worth the pain as she'll have a much better immune system for it. She said no antibiotics unless she had a clear infection such as UTI, they're usually reluctant to prescribe to little ones due to antibiotic resistance

Yes he said it was VIRAL and would take a while to go and then said “try not to give the antibiotics for as long as poss”

When I took her back he said haven’t they worked so I told him that I hadn’t given her them he said oh good.

Hence why I’m so confused!!!

Baby is fine in herself, happy, normal nappies & eating very well.,

But I suppose I was concerned as to why I should give her them for viral

And for the lovely posters saying I’ve waisted the precious appointment time - it’s the first time I’ve ever taken her to the doctors in her life and haven’t even taken prescription to chemist yet, so no I’ve not waisted anybody’s time.

Believe me I’m a fairly laid back mom so would not take my DD to the doctors if I thought it wasn’t necessary.

Thank you for the advice

I think you’re confused because most cases are viral.. but some are not and those are the ones that your GP is trying to capture with the antibiotics.
Seriously, children can go downhill so rapidly. Your child will not become immune to antibiotics or suffer harm from them

Two posters on this thread, including the OP have said taking antibiotics might cause a person to be come immune to them- this is not true. BACTERIA may become immune to antibiotics but people can't.

If an antibiotic doesn't work on your bug, and the dr prescribes another kind which does, its not because the first antibiotic didn't work on you- it's because it didn't work on whatever bacteria is making you sick.

Yes lettucewrap that’s what I meant apologies.

I think I’ll see how she is tomorrow then go get them.

Thanks all

As long as possible? That's really vague. I think I would want clarification. Seems odd.

Lettuce you are spot on. All this chat about widespread resistance to antibiotics is about bacteria becoming resistant - not individual people

“try not to give the antibiotics for as long as poss”

This is confusing advice. No wonder you're confused. How do you know when to start the ABs? I would want more guidance than that.

People with viral infections can develop bacterial complications. That's why antibiotics might be necessary.

When did your DD last see the Dr?

I'm with Mindutopia on this, that generally kids tend to get a temperature together with whatever other symptom e.g. ear ache for ear infection, but that is just my experience.

Also, Drs do sometimes prescribe antibiotics almost as a just in case. My DS has one antibiotic prescription in the fridge that was prescribed in case his severe ear pain turned into an infection (no high temperature, but we're told to give it to him if he developed a fever too). We collected it as we were going to the arse end of no-where for a few days, but didn't need it.

We also have another prescription (not collected) given recently by the out of hours Dr for a massively high fever that we struggled to bring down. He said that it was just a virus, but to give him the antibiotic if his fever didn't come down within a couple of days.

Is there maybe another Dr at your surgery who could give a second opinion?

I'm with Mindutopia on this, that generally kids tend to get a temperature together with whatever other symptom e.g. ear ache for ear infection, but that is just my experience.

This is useful as a rule of thumb but isn't always true. My DD was very ill with bacterial complications of a viral infection but initially had no temperature or listlessness, was drinking normally etc.

if you are at all worried - why dont you go back to the GP? I never understand people who post here saying "oh my [expert] said xyz after seeing my xyz, do you thiink they are right?"

how should we know? and even if we do post, how do you know we know what we are talking about??

how is her snot? if it is green give antibiotics imo.
or yellow in fact.

I may ask for a second opinion then.

Trouble is to get an appointment at our GPS you have to call at 8am and say it’s an emergency. Which I feel I would be lying if i Said that?!

Am I too soft?!

they did the same with me, antibiotics for me on a just in case basis, if my snot became yellow.

go to chemist and get the prescription op.