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Original poster

How to get 2 year old to take tablets

89 replies

jadedinsomniac · 09/12/2022 16:35

So 2 year old has scarlet fever. There are no liquid antibiotics in my area and it could be another 4 days but that's not even a guarantee so they've given us tablets
Not allowed to crush them
I've got to stick them on her tongue and give her a drink. All she does is gag and spit them out.
I'm sorta at a loss really
Any suggestions?

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WiseUpJanetWeiss · 10/12/2022 15:37

Hope you get seen soon OP.

Original poster
jadedinsomniac · 10/12/2022 15:44

Got seen pretty much straight away. She's been admitted onto a ward for IV antibiotics. The doctor is pissed she was prescribed tablets. Probably going to be here for a few days

OP posts:
prescribingmum · 10/12/2022 15:48

I’m so sorry to hear she got worse and you had to be admitted.

I’ll be honest - I’m pretty pissed off a GP just expected you to give her tablets and for her to willingly swallow them. This treatment is needed and it’s 4 times a day, not a one off dose. The chances of you succeeding consistently to finish a course with a child that young are next to nothing.

Hospital are much better with children and will be able to guide on how to get doses in before discharging you

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Original poster
jadedinsomniac · 10/12/2022 15:58

@prescribingmum I'm reluctant to use the word traumatised but by this morning she was hysterical at the sight of me or her dad getting her a drink cos she didn't want the tablets or the experience. 4 times a day for 10 days

We knew she was getting worse early hours this im morning. She is covered head to toe in this angry red rash. It's everywhere. We got seen almost straight away by a doctor. Her temperature was 40.5 when the nurse saw us on admission.

She's on a bed fast asleep. Had an iv fitted with some desperately needed fluids and her antibiotics.

The doctor was so annoyed. He asked if we knew she had scarlet fever so I explained as I have in this post that we only had tablets. He said he'd never prescribe for any under 6 and even 6 is early. He reassured us we had no way of getting them down her as they don't really know how and it's not nice for them

OP posts:
rubbishcleaner · 10/12/2022 17:30

So glad she’s getting antibiotics now OP. I hope she’s feeling better soon .

rubbishcleaner · 10/12/2022 17:32

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 10/12/2022 15:36

According to official sources there are plenty, but they are in manufacturers' and wholesalers' warehouses and not where they need to be. If this is true they will materialise in pharmacies over the next week or so.

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I don’t for one minute believe the official explanation. If it is with manufacturers it could be distributed quicker surely ? It’s been a week or so with this issue and we have 2 year olds being prescribed tablets??!! It’s not ok and it needs sorting out asap it should be a priority that or admit there’s a supply issue and give parents the option to miss the last week of school to stop the spread of something there’s no available treatment for

Hangupsrus · 10/12/2022 17:41

I'd have a job getting my 8 yo to take tablets so I know I'd have had no chance when they were 2, that's madness from your GP to expect it. I'd ask if they can change to the capsules that can be taken apart and you can sprinkle the insides onto Nutella, this is what I have done for my dc in the past.

Clymene · 10/12/2022 17:43

It is traumatic. For all of you. I'm so glad she's being taken care of now and very much hope she makes a swift recovery. Flowers

If it's any consolation at all, my 16 year old was blue lighted to hospital in the middle of the night when he was a baby because he was blue and couldn't breathe. He was in for a week and it was touch and go. Nowadays I barely think of it.

Original poster
jadedinsomniac · 10/12/2022 17:55

On a ward all tucked in. Hasn't stirred awake in 2 hours. She's exhausted and isn't very happy and I can't blame her.
They want to keep her in at least 2 days which I'm fine with. I'm exhausted and I am annoyed. I am so so grateful for the NHS but this is ridiculous. I shouldn't have no medication for my child and end up in a and e. I shouldn't have had my 2 year old screaming mummy no when I approached her with a tablet and a glass of water. She's exhausted. She's not even stirred when I lifted her into the bed and the doctor took her temperature.
I'm sorry, I'm venting now.
I know deep down it's nobodies fault and it happens and she will be fine and won't remember this but I'm so so fed up

OP posts:
Clymene · 10/12/2022 18:27

It is ridiculous and it is wrong. You have every right to be really upset. I would be. Your daughter has suffered really unnecessarily.

Eatentoomanyroses · 10/12/2022 18:43

That’s awful. I’d be livid. I hope she improves soon

DarkKarmaIlama · 10/12/2022 18:46

Gosh, awful care. It’s just not possible for a lot of 2 year olds to swallow tablets even with yoghurt or Nutella. I am just lost for words really. Hope you manage to find a solution.

DarkKarmaIlama · 10/12/2022 18:50

Oh just seen your update. It’s no wonder you’re venting I would have been absolutely furious.

I would have gone to A and E in the first place to demand the liquid if this happens to anyone else by the way. Don’t wait, it’s absolutely ridiculous to prescribe tablets to 2 year olds. Do not accept this and go to A and E.

Original poster
jadedinsomniac · 10/12/2022 18:56

Probably breaking rules but I've climbed into bed with her and she's snuggled right against me twiddling my hair.

Doctor said the medicine should kick in quickly but is fuming himself she was given tablets.

I just feel done. Like I'm kicking myself for not going sooner when the rash became more serious but what's done is done
I am considering a complaint. I don't want any child to suffer like my little girl has

OP posts:
Starburst8 · 10/12/2022 19:03

So glad you went to a+e and got the treatment she needed. Staying in hospital isn't a first choice but in this situation it's the best option for her. With IV antibiotics they should act fast and hopefully she'll be over this Scarlet fever in no time.

SilverGlitterBaubles · 10/12/2022 19:11

What a disgraceful situation this country is in that we don't even have vital medicines for our children this winter.

Drcoxisafox · 10/12/2022 19:13

This whole situation is insanity. I don’t believe there isn’t a shortage either, there clearly is. It could have become really serious is OP couldn’t get the tablets down her - which she clearly couldn’t because she’s two.

honestly what is going on in this country?

PeekAtYou · 10/12/2022 19:14

My teenager is on medication that comes in tablet form and the pharmacist sometimes apologizes for not having it in liquid form. A 2 year old swallowing a tablet is madness imo.

Caspianberg · 10/12/2022 19:19

Wow
My Ds is also ill and I’m keeping and eye on him, with a view of taking him to get checked tomorrow if needed
Hes 2 and 8 months, and no way would he be able to swallow a tablet whole. His sore throat means he not even eating spoons of yogurt etc reliably of it could be crushed.

Jackiebrambles · 10/12/2022 19:20

Thank god you went to a&e, well done. Your poor Dd. My dd had scarlet fever when she was a similar age and I found it hard enough getting her to take the liquid antibiotics, so many choc buttons and tears! I don't think I could get my 9 year old to take a tablet, genuinely!!

Sounds like the a&e doc is great.

As soon as I started her on the anti biotics she felt better so quickly, I hope after a massive sleep your dd feels better too.

rubbishcleaner · 10/12/2022 19:20

Drcoxisafox · 10/12/2022 19:13

This whole situation is insanity. I don’t believe there isn’t a shortage either, there clearly is. It could have become really serious is OP couldn’t get the tablets down her - which she clearly couldn’t because she’s two.

honestly what is going on in this country?

Yes it’s ridiculous

there wasn’t enough ppe during covid….. now there’s a shortage of antibiotics. Bet there will never be a shortage of the preferred wine and cheese for Downing Street parties.

the government need to admire there’s an issue, get the stick where it needs to be asap and if they haven’t got enough close schools a week early or at least make it at parents discretion whether to keep dc at home or not otherwise this will be bad all over Xmas when a and e will be even busier

rubbishcleaner · 10/12/2022 19:21

*admit not admire although you do wonder if they like to see us suffer

Autumnmoonshines · 10/12/2022 19:21

So glad you are where you are. But also can’t believe they gave you tablets.

thank goodness for IV A-biotics. I’ve had strep throat badly (day 9 of 8 tablets a day!) and day 2 of AB I felt a million times better. She will feel a lot better very soon.

im angry for you. Also by her getting annoyed at you approaching with a drink she’s not going to get fluids in is she.

SilverGlitterBaubles · 10/12/2022 19:31

Thank goodness you went to hospital and got treatment. However this is a hospital admission that could probably have been avoided if the correct medication was available. How many more cases are there like this?

prescribingmum · 10/12/2022 19:47

Yes I fully agree with the doctor - I spent years working in paediatrics as a pharmacist and would never have expected a young child to swallow something as crucial as an antibiotic. There should have been a backup if she could not swallow them, the consequences for not getting the course are not mild when it’s a confirmed case. I would recommend writing a written complaint once you are home and well - this GP needs to reflect on the information they provided

Im so glad you got to hospital in time and she’s getting the rest and treatment she needs. Your annoyance isn’t misguided, the infection couldn’t have been prevented but her case could have been handled better