Antibiotics - your views?

[Jenu294]

My 13 month girl has just completed her third lot of antibiotics, Amoxycillin, since she was born.

Cut a long story short, she's been coughing a lot recently and I've taken her to the doctor numerous times. Her last antibiotic course (before Amoxycillin) was Erythromycin for a throat infection and that's been in the last 6 weeks.

The doctors can find no real symptoms accompanying her cough - no wheezing, no temperature, pulse is fine, chest seems clear (I'll also add she was prescribed an inhaler for allergies but it doesn't seem to be working?)

My husband is reluctant to give her yet another course (was prescribed Erythromycin this week) and so am I. But obviously I don't want her cough to develop into a secondary infection.

She's also eating fine and seems well in herself.

Any other parent going through this predicament? Any advice?

Did the dr think she had a infection and needed them or was she giving them just in case?

If there's no temperature (and you're not giving painkillers regularly that would bring down her temperature) then it's unlikely to be a bacterial infection so antibiotics are not going to help. With regards to the inhaler for allergies, how long did you use it for and have you tried an antihistamine such as piriton for the allergies? I would go and see a pharmacist and ask their advice and also ask them to check that you're using the inhaler correctly before giving more antibiotics

I'm no doctor, but it does not sound to me like she needs antibiotics.

OP, I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but why do you keep taking her to the doctor if she's just got a cough and no other symptoms? It's common for a normal cough to take several weeks to shift.

This sounds to me like a situation of a doctor prescribing antibiotics just to 'get rid of you'.

The doctor has given me the antibiotics "in case". I told her we were reluctant to give my daughter any more as they didn't seem to be helping? She was fine with this and told me to keep using the inhaler "as and when".

The inhaler comes with a spacer, use four times a day. She's not coughing as much so I only use it now when
and if she has a coughing episode.

Little one only had a mild temperature for a day, a few weeks back - bought it down with Calpol and she's not had one since.

I just feel antibiotics are being dished out to easily these days?

Can I give piriton to a baby?

Does she have a fever and is she clearly unwell (drowsy, listless, etc). A cough is pretty normal at that age as they get cold after cold. Mine had a chesty mucus cough for about 6 months. It wasn’t a bacterial infection so no need to treat it. They very rarely need antibiotics. When she did it was obvious - very high fever, laboured breathing, literally just slept in my arms for about 4 hours, wouldn’t eat. If she’s otherwise herself, I’d just give it time. It can easily take 2-4 weeks for a cough to clear.

@Pineapplefish I'm a first time mum
so I guess I get a bit anxious - she's had this cough for 6 weeks now and it doesn't seem to be shifting? I'm baffled I guess and so is my husband.

I have to keep the humidifier on in her bedroom at night so she can sleep soundly. If not she wakes coughing.

Okay thanks all. I'm not used to baby/child sickness

She's fine - eating and sleeping well, very outgoing. I shall worry less now I have a few opinions lol

If a doctor prescribes antibiotics "just in case", without there actually being a bacterial infection, I'd switch doctors immediately and maybe even report him, if there is a possibility to do that.
Doing this was normal a while ago, but by now every doctor should be aware that using antibiotics without need it dangerous. Plenty of people die every year due to resistant bacteria!

Hi,

To quickly jump in - we asked Dr. Chin Nwokoro, an expert in paediatric respiratory medicine about coughing in children - it may be of interest.

@SmartPlay thanks for your advice. I'll admit my husband gets rather annoyed at their prescribing antibiotics without knowing for certain. And I think after her last check up I was rather alarmed that I was fobbed off with antibiotics yet again.

I shall def be looking further into the matter now.

@JoshMumsnet ah thanks so much for that! That has put my mind at rest - if only all doctors were this informative!!

I’m that your GP keeps giving you anti bs for this. It takes absolutely ages for babies to clear coughs- frustrating as all the advice is to contact your doctor if it lasts more than a week, but mine have had coughs that have been on and off for months

I remember my two coughing a lot at this age - one GP mentioned something she called the ‘six month cough’ by which she meant that some coughs can last a long time without being sinister. I think when you’re discussing with the GP it’s ok to take the stance of being there to check abx are not needed, rather than wanting a prescription (which is what some people are there for). It is perfectly fine to see a GP for reassurance, especially with a child, and it’s perfectly ok to keep going back just to be sure.

It all started with a Febrile seizure at the start of May (which was the start of an ear infection). This then led onto a secondary throat infection hence the Erythromycin.

When she was prescribed Amoxycillin recently the doctor, using the percussion/tapping technique thought that although she sounded "hollow" in parts, others was like tapping on wood - antibiotics prescribed to nip whatever it was?? in the bud.

All doctors said it's difficult to diagnose a baby this young. And I go to the doctor available as it's nigh on impossible getting the same one at such short notice.

Not one doctor told me to "stop worrying, coughs can linger - go home, eat cake, your daughter's just fine" 😁 Glad I posted on here now because I've gotten more peace of mind from fellow mums than doctors!!!

The febrile seizure must’ve been terrifying

@Passthecherrycoke I have to say it was the most terrifying moment of my life ever. I literally thought she was dying in my arms.

What gets me is that babies are prone to fevers, and the like, and yet I wasn't pre-warned of this by any midwife.

A&E informed me, in viral season, they treat up to 7 babies a day!! Seriously?! 😟

Paramedics were amazing though - two ambulances at once as well.