11 month prescribed antibiotics after strange appointment..

[bananasinabowl]

I had an appointment with out of hours GP. My daughters been poorly and lethargic since Saturday with temperature constantly spiking - as high as 39.9.
She seems abit better today but still lethargic and spiking temperature.

I took her to the out of hours GP after ringing 111 he checked her forehead temperature which was 36.4. I had to ask him to check her ear temperature which was 38.9!! That’s when he was like oh okay, yes she seems unwell. He checked her chest and was unsure whether to prescribe antibiotics and then asked what I thought?!!
I then asked him if he could check her ears just in case - which he did.
I asked him if he think I should give the antibiotics and he said “it’s hard to say as might lead to bronchiolitis or pneumonia”.

Now I am wondering whether my daughter needs antibiotics or did he just give them to fob me off??
She is coughing alot at night and seem in pain and her temperature spikes back up after calpol and Nurofen wear off

If seems a bit better today, I'd probably wait and see. Does the temperature come down with paracetamol and ibuprofen?

Yes it does. But only to 37.5 to 38 degrees. As soon as it wears off, it goes above 38.5 degrees,

You could call 111 to ask their advice? They will possibly just send you back to out of hours for a second opinion, though.

I don't see why giving antibiotics would lead to further infection - did he mean that the current chest infection may be viral, which won't be cured by antibiotics, but he's given ABs due to the risk that this viral infection may turn into a bacterial infection, which would need antibiotics? In that case I would give them. A bacterial infection would be much riskier for a small baby than a course of antibiotics (I am not a doctor).

Doctors don't prescribe them for no reason. However if you're confused by the advice it wouldn't hurt to seek clarification.

She seemed abit better as she’s stomached some food and milk but she sleeping more than usual. She had a 3 hours nap this morning and now has nodded off again on my lap,

No, he meant that it’s hard to say if she will get better without antibiotics. Given her age, it might lead to bronchiolitis or pneumonia if left untreated so he rather give antibiotics even though he doesn’t like prescribing them quickly but he said her temperature is high and she is teething too and looks tired and unwell.

If it was my child I’d be starting the antibiotics sooner rather than later.

With the cough, fever and sleepiness, I would be looking out for signs of RSV https://www.alderhey.nhs.uk/conditions/patient-information-leaflets/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv/

My GP was a bit wet when my LO had RSV at 6 months, suggested trading baby to A&E "if I had time that day" - wtf?! Who doesn't have time to go to A&E if the GP suggests it?!

The big tell for RSV are chest retractions or blue lips (baby had former but not latter). They can test for it at many A&E units, and most importantly they can check that your baby is keeping their oxygen levels up while asleep.

There's also flu and the usual zoo of viruses around. Use your instinct, I had to take LO to A&E twice in the first year (COVID then RSV), they were very kind both times and did not make me feel like a fussy FTM. COVID we were sent home with advice, RSV needed a 48h stay for oxygen.

That’s another thing, he had an oximeter on his desk but didn’t check her oxygen levels.
My eldest has bronchiolitis 3 times so you would think I was well versed in what signs to look for! But it was 7 years ago and I am not sure. I don’t think her chest is retracting but she is breathing faster than normal but that could be due to the fever. I also had the RSV vaccines whilst pregnant but not sure how long the immunity lasts for, for them.

I think I’ll just start the antibiotics. My son ended up on the high dependency unit as I waited for him to get better on his own (I never heard of bronchiolitis) so I should get what the doctor is saying… I just wish he was abit more you need to do this instead of being unsure.

I'd start them given that explanation too. I think you've done the right thing - hope he's feeling better soon.

First time in 3 days, her fever is now below 37 degrees. Does that mean the antibiotics were needed or would it have happened anyway? I suppose we won’t know.