I was helping at the end of year party for my youngest ds, when my oldest came in with a note from the nurse. He had a fever of 102. So, we left early, he didn't even get to stay for his party. I took him to 1st med because he also had a sore throat. They did a strep test, but it came back negative. She still gave him an antibiotic. She said she was concerned because he looks terrible, and is just out of it. I gave him some motrin, and he is sleeping.

I haven't filled the antibiotic. I don't know if I should give it to him. What do you think? If it is just a virus, it won't do anything. He hasn't taken an antibiotic in a LONG time, at least a year. I just hate to give it to him if he doesn't need it.

By Jackie on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 05:27 pm:

My kids drs dont give them any antibotic unless they have some sort of infection(strep throat, ear infection etc..). There is times when my sons throat was so swollen and he felt horrible, and the strep test came back negative, she would not give us anything told us its a virus. Of course always saying if not better in x amt of days come back. Usually within the week he was better. Some virus's are just plain nasty and have to run its course.

It stinks having to miss the last day of school party. That happened to me as a child quite a few times. I hope your son is feeling better soon.

By Chai~latte on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 05:31 pm:

I would fill the prescription but wait a day before giving him anything. If you don't fill it at 2 a.m. when he's really sick you'll be kicking yourself wishing you at least had something to give him. If it's a virus he should start to get better in a few days; if not you have the script on hand if needed.

Sorry your little guy missed his special day and isn't feeling well.

By Luvn29 on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 06:01 pm:

I don't think it will hurt him to go ahead and give him the antibiotic. If he took them all the time, then I would worry, but one time isn't going to cause him to build up an immunity.

You took him to the dr. for a reason, and if she isn't one to give antibiotics all the time, I would go with her instinct to give him one this time.

I hate that he had to miss his last day. My son just sprained his knee, and has to miss his end of the year field day, and a great birthday party one of his best friends is having. They will be running around a lot and playing on a trampoline, so I feel it's best for him not to go and have to watch that!

I hope your son starts feeling better quickly!

By Debbie on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 06:43 pm:

I think I am going to fill it, but wait a day or so, to see if he gets better on his own.

Adena, that stinks about your ds. How long does he have to be off his knee? Adena, I think you are smart about the birthday party. Ds is in a cast for a fractured arm, he still wanted to go to his baseball game, and cheer on his team. Well, he was so down because he couldn't play. We didn't realize how hard it would be for him to just watch.

Ds woke up and told me he is "totally bummed" between this and his fractured arm, we aren't starting the summer off too well.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 07:46 pm:

Sometimes throat swabs that are intially negative, can turn out positive a day or two later, when cultured in the lab. It doesn't happen that often, but it DOES happen.

Sometimes our docs give antibiotics, even though the rapid strep test is negative, because they don't like how their throat looked.

By Debbie on Friday, May 23, 2008 - 07:56 pm:

Well, after your post Dawn, I think I will give them to him. Dh went and got them after work. Ds just told me that it feels like needles in his throat, which makes me think it could be strep. Dh and I were just thinking back, and ds has not taken antibiotics in over 2 yrs., maybe longer. So, I don't think it will hurt him.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 01:41 am:

Ouch. Strep can be a nasty sore throat!

By Debbie on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 09:14 am:

Well, he woke up this morning, no sore throat and no fever. I wonder if it was just a 24 hour bug. He is running around perfectly fine. So, I am not going to give him anymore antibiotics. He has had some drainage because his allergies have been bugging him, so I think the sore throat could have been from that. The drainage seems to be gone this morning too.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 10:19 am:

I'm glad he's feeling better. Sorry he missed his party.

By Dramamamma on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 11:50 am:

I'm glad that it doesn't appear to be strep. Allergies can sure mess us up can't they?

I missed EVERY single last day of school in junior high for being sick, it was always my luck.

I'm glad he's feeling better!

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 03:24 pm:

Debbie, I think you should complete the course of antibiotics. First, antibiotics are great stuff and usually work very quickly. I remember when I'd have a really sick child, start antibiotics, and the next day you'd never know the kid had been sick - that's the way they work. But, if you don't complete the course, whatever it is can come back and often worse because the first couple of doses have knocked out the "weak" germs/bacteria, and the strong ones are reproducing like crazy unless you knock them out also.

I checked with Scott, who is fairly up on this stuff, and his comment was that one of the ways antibiotic resistant bacteria are created is by people who don't complete a course of antibiotics and let the strongest bacteria survive.

By Debbie on Saturday, May 24, 2008 - 10:48 pm:

Ginny, my friend is a nurse, and she got on me today. So, I am giving my ds the antibiotics. She said the same thing. They won't hurt him, and he obviously had something.

He is still doing great, and he got to spend the day at the pool with friends.

By Ginny~moderator on Sunday, May 25, 2008 - 07:26 am:

Glad you decided to continue the antibiotics. And glad your son is symptom-free.