Kids are still sick after antibiotics - throat issues

[Tiger926]

We can't seem to catch a break around here - DD6 is never sick, but has been a bit off the past month, whereas DS2 has had a horrible year, but has been doing very well as of late. Both kids have been sick over the past month - before anyone says it's back to school stuff, we go to school during the summer as well (Montessori), plus they go to WDW for 2 weeks each July, so they are exposed to stuff all year. But the weather has been horrible, so I'm assuming there are lots of fall viruses floating around as many of my students are sick as well?

Anyway, baby got hand/foot/mouth (from school), and then has spent the past few weeks with really bad colds, fevers, stuffy nose and sore throats. Same with daughter, so they just finished 5 days of antibiotics for extremely red and swollen throats. They had fevers, but no white spots, so ped didn't swab. They started to feel better right away, yet here we are again, 4 days after meds, and both kids now have spots on their throats. Baby has another fever, threw up all night (due to mucous) from coughing and sore throat. It just doesn't seem to want to go away...

I called the clinic nurse as ped is closed on weekend, and she said not much to do as the lab results wouldn't be in until Tuesday, yet we can take back to ped and have lab results by end of day Monday, or early Tuesday. DD feels fine, no fever, just some spots on her throat, but baby is tired, fever has gone away, red throat and coughing (although coughing has subsided now that he is awake and learning up on hubby's shoulder).

We are frustrated as baby has been very sick the past 1.5 year (he's now 26 months old) with ear tube surgery, asthma and adenoids removed, but has been doing awesome the past 6 months. Baby has not been on asthma meds for months now, as his lungs have been clear, so we weaned him off - lungs sound clear (we check daily).

Just wondering what you all would do? We are giving fluids, only giving Tylenol when fever hits 102 or higher (both kids spike to 105 very easily, so fevers aren't a big deal for us, but doc and hospital have advised at this temp) and staying inside.

Any tips or ideas as to what is going on - strep, tonsillitis, bad colds, virus...? They only had 5 days of strong antibiotics (Zithromax), so perhaps not enough? Their symptoms definitely suggested bacterial, and now with white spots, I am pretty sure this is what it is, but not sure why they came out after antibiotics?

Tiger

 

[mjkacmom]

My oldest was the healthiest, but all of my other kids were sick from October - May, maybe with 5 days of healthy kids. We'd go from colds, to strep, to stomach bugs, to ear infections - one after the other, after the other. I remember my sister, who's oldest is the same age as my youngest, asking me why my kids were always sick at every holiday. Then her youngest started school, and yep, her kids are always sick.

The good news is, now that my youngest are 6, my kids are never sick - we've had it all! Fifths, coxsackie, rotavirus... I think your kids are normal, and just getting their childhood illnesses.

 

[Tiger926]

My oldest was the healthiest, but all of my other kids were sick from October - May, maybe with 5 days of healthy kids. We'd go from colds, to strep, to stomach bugs, to ear infections - one after the other, after the other. I remember my sister, who's oldest is the same age as my youngest, asking me why my kids were always sick at every holiday. Then her youngest started school, and yep, her kids are always sick.

The good news is, now that my youngest are 6, my kids are never sick - we've had it all! Fifths, coxsackie, rotavirus... I think your kids are normal, and just getting their childhood illnesses.

Thanks, this is what we think too. I just checked their medical journal, and the baby was sick many weeks in September and October last year too, but his asthma was bad. That's not the case this year, but now we are seeing throat and headcold issues, that weren't there last year. So frustrating!

With my DD6, not sure what is going on? She never gets sick, and has a high pain tolerance when she does, so despite the fact that I can see white spots on her throat, she feels great she says. I'll be taking both of them back to pediatrician on Monday...again, in order to have him check them out.

So frustrating - I lived with this as well, as my sis and I were very sickly kids, and this even followed me into adulthood. I'm slowly getting better as I get older, but I struggle with allergies/colds pretty much all year round, but the fall and early winter are really bad for me.

Thanks - hope your kids are healthy! Tiger

 

[bumbershoot]

MDs who prescribe abx without testing, especially when obviously there have been tons of viruses around (colds, hand/foot/mouth, etc), just mystify me. Abx are not benign, they do have negative effects on health.

I'd be sure to start the kidlets on some nice probiotics to build up the good bacteria in their bellies, so they get a bit of immune system back after the antibiotics.

You also might start looking elsewhere, to find someone to help build up their immune systems, rather than just prescribe things without testing, rather than taking parts of the immune system out (adenoids are lymphoid tissue), etc...I'm sorry their doctor has jumped the gun like this, but it sure does seem common.

I would start with a naturopath (and FYI, we don't even have an MD for DS other than the lovely kid's ER people for the 2 accidents he's had, so I walk this walk) and with their help find a way to build up their systems. Obviously what their current doc has been doing hasn't been working.

Good luck!!!!

 

[Tiger926]

MDs who prescribe abx without testing, especially when obviously there have been tons of viruses around (colds, hand/foot/mouth, etc), just mystify me. Abx are not benign, they do have negative effects on health.

I'd be sure to start the kidlets on some nice probiotics to build up the good bacteria in their bellies, so they get a bit of immune system back after the antibiotics.

You also might start looking elsewhere, to find someone to help build up their immune systems, rather than just prescribe things without testing, rather than taking parts of the immune system out (adenoids are lymphoid tissue), etc...I'm sorry their doctor has jumped the gun like this, but it sure does seem common.

I would start with a naturopath (and FYI, we don't even have an MD for DS other than the lovely kid's ER people for the 2 accidents he's had, so I walk this walk) and with their help find a way to build up their systems. Obviously what their current doc has been doing hasn't been working.

Good luck!!!!

Our pediatrician is very good, and hardly prescribes antibiotics at all. The kids had been sick for weeks, and tried fighting it on their own, but with high fevers, missing school, and my baby's asthma, he made the decision for antibiotics, of which we had no problem with. We don't take antibiotics lightly around here, as we are allergic to many forms, so he only prescribes as a last resort.

You don't know our history, so you can't make generalizations about our doc and his methods. We are very natural, but with asthma and a history of ear problems, our baby has made the most amazing turn around after his tubes and adenoid removal. I went through the same thing and was extremely ill before my adeonoid/tonsil removal, so I am a byproduct of trying to fight stuff without meds and surgeries, as was our baby for awhile. After some serious illnesses due to not medicating, we made the decision for surgeries, and are glad we did. We spent months researching and almost cancelled the surgery, before talking with other parents who are like us. One used to work for a Naturopath doc, and she helped us realize that with certain things, you needed to go further than just saline rinses and such. Our baby has spent much time in the hospital due to not medicating him - his asthma before he was on puffers, caused him to be in the hospital many times for pneumonia and bronchitis. Now, we have successfully weaned him off the meds, so this is his first bout of illness in quite awhile.

I totally get from your response and other posts that you don't care for drugs, surgeries, etc., but when it's a matter of life and death, as it was for me, and our baby, sometimes surgeries are necessary.

Thanks for your thoughts and tips about the probiotics, Tiger

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

When my DD was in 1st grade she had strep for 6 staight weeks. She would do the 2 weeks on antibiotics and then she would be off for a day and it would come back - after the second round they gave her a different antibiotic and it cleared it up. You may just need more meds. If they are miserable take them to an urgent care - they can get you a quick test result in a matter of mins.

I hope they feel better soon!

I forgot to add: They ended up testing our whole family - becuase sometimes a person can be a carrier. They even had our vet treat our dogs for strep - they can be carriers too!

 

[skw444]

My youngest just got over being sick with fever and red, swollen throat with white patches. She had a fever for 5 days. We took her to the pedi and they swabbed for strep and the test came back negative. We also took her to immediate care one night because the pedi was closed and her fever spiked to 105. They said there was a virus going around with fever and sore throat...she said around 5-6 days of being sick. Hope your little one gets to feeling better soon!

 

[dwfanatic]

Want to first say I totally understand about sick babies...DS#1 was a constant mess...tubes at 1 year, strep throat, etc. I hope it gets better for you soon. One thing I just wanted to mention (not sure if you thought about it) is to make sure you throw out toothbrushes during/after each bout of sickness...you might spend a lot on new ones, but it may help...it seemed to work for us...(or it could have just been a coincidence)

 

[Minniemama350]

Tonsils are something for the back of your mind, but it is too soon to say. Zithromax is a fine antibiotic, but that doesn't mean it should have got it. Sometimes a different kind of antibiotic could be in order, because they work in different ways. (Not trying to say you should ASK for one, just be open if the Dr. suggests it.) Kids go through bouts of stuff. The probiotic is a great idea so you don't have to deal with the antibiotic side effects.

 

[Tiger926]

Thanks to all for suggestions. Baby is feeling much better, so we will go back to doc tomorrow. His lungs are clear, thank goodness, but at night he is coughigng a lot, which is usually his asthma, but since lungs are clear, he seems to be having major postnasal drips. I have lived with this my entire life, BTDT!

DD6 is having no issues at all - just a slight cough at night, as air is dry, so we have put on the humidifier and we'll see if that helps. We also have an HVAC system as well - lots of cuddles, hugs, fluids and resting inside too, plus a Disney movie marathon yesterday!

Thanks! Tiger

 

[jakoky]

I so feel for you...i have teenagers now, but i remember when they were smaller...my youngest was a preemie and had 3 major surgeries on her bowel in her first 4 weeks of life(she was 7 weeks early)...she was sick for her first two years...constant ear infections and she had rsv twice(as a preemie, this was bad and once was admitted for 8 days to hospital)...anytime she had a cold, she would cough for weeks (due basically to a damaged airway)...heres the great news, she is now 14 and rarely gets sick...usually once a year, like right now...we are all fighting colds and sore throats....

Hopefully they are on the road to recovery...as for the asthma thing, i understand that too..my son had cough varient asthma...he basically coughed all night for the about 4 years, to the point of almost throwing up...he also outgrew it, but he had to go on powerful steroid medication to prevent him growing up damaging his lungs...hated putting him on it, but had to...So things definatley get better as they grow, but there is nothing worse than watching your little ones hurt...

Two months ago, my 2 oldest had wicked sore throats...first my son, who after 5 days was better all on his own...then my daughter, who on day 3 convinced me she needed to see the doc...well, she was strep and had to get antiobiotics...who would have thought that we had two different sore throat varieties going at the same time...