Strep Throat. How Long Do I Wait for the Antibiotics to Work?

You can also try a numbing agent like the chloraseptic (sp?) throat spray, that may help her get some relief enough to get some nutrition in her...poor thing...I have been there! Motrin and Tylenol are wonderful too...may take a bit longer for that Amoxicillin to kick it. Frozen things help too like popsicles and milkshakes maybe? Best of luck!

That sounds like a long time to be on antibiotics and still be feeling so bad, N.. I hope that the doctor helps her. Maybe she needs a different one...

It takes a while for the amoxicillin to work. Give her liquid motrin and tylenol every 4-6 hours according to the label. You can overlap these meds so she isn't without pain relief. Make sure she completes the antibiotics!!!!

Phone the doctor's office, today. Most pediatricians' offices will have a nurse who answers questions on the phone (sometimes called the "triage nurse"). This is exactly the kind of issue that a triage nurse is there for -- to answer whether the medication just needs more time, or whether you really need to bring your child back to the doctor. While it can take time for antibiotics to kick in, please call the doctor's office to be sure and don't just take our word here. I know it's expensive if you have to take your child back to the doctor, but please realize that it will be FAR more expensive if her severe strep isn't treated completely, even if that treatment means another trip to the doctor. Strep infections can get into the bloodstream, can turn into scarlet fever, etc., so if the doctor wants to see you again -- please don't let the cost stop you. Many doctors will do payment plans to spread out the cost over time, if it's a hardship for you to pay all at once.

Typically 24-48 hours after starting antibotics is when most people would feel some improvement. However, last year, my daughter had a BAD case and due to the fever and lack of appetite etc she was really weak...it took longer (and we changed the antibotic on the 5th day...actually added a 2nd, different one). It then took another 2 days before she was a feeling better...a few more before she was much better. For us it was a combination of a severe form of strep going around AND too weak an antibotic being prescribed.

What medicine did the doctor prescribe? I think I would call the doctor's office and ask if they could prescribe something stronger since she feels no relief yet...especially if the one she is taking is mild like amoxicillian.

The general rule of thumb is feeling better within 24 hours of starting any course of antibiotics. So long as you keep a steady level in your system from that first dose onward (take the doses at the correct time every time), then you should be improved after the initial 24 hours.

At this point I would call the doctor's office and talk to the nurse. It would concern me she isn't feeling better by now. For what it is worth I wouldn't start giving her pain relievers to dull the pain either until I got the all clear from the doctor. I would worry those pain relievers would mask symptoms which are worsening instead of improving. Good luck. I hope she feels better soon.

Typical strep throat is an acute pain in the throat (my past experiences of Strep multiple times in one year). Not being able to turn her head or smile is concerning. If she says it hurts in her throat to do that, well, that might just be her sensitivity.

But if her other muscles hurt when she tries, it could be symptomatic of something more severe; a stiff neck is one of the accompanying signs of meningitis (rare). Or, it could be a very strong case of strep throat & inflammation of the lymph nodes (more likely).

Either way, a call to the doctor is definitely warranted. It may be that your daughter needs something for the pain until the antibiotics are able to address the infection. Or she may need a stronger antibiotic - 72 hours is plenty of time for it to have starte to take noticeable effect, & amoxicillin is only one antibiotic that can be prescribed.

So, if you haven't already, make sure to call your doctors office today. Ask to speak with the nurse (don't just leave a message with the receptionist for the doctor to call you, they are busy & a nurse can help make a judgement call to interrupt the doctor to consult, or advise you if you need to come in).

In the meantime, I'll just offer my one go-to food when I have a sore throat: Extra soft & creamy mashed potatoes with plenty of salt. McDonalds french fries work great too... The salt soothes, & the potato is soft enough to not scratch the throat.

Hope she is on the mend soon! T.

So she's been on them just a hair over 24 hours?

You need to give it 3-4 more days.

I was always told with my kids that it should work within 24 hours to lessen the pain. I'd think that if you are 3 days out and still no relief at all, that I'd be on the phone with them if not sitting in the office.

Strep is no joke and hurts like hell. I really hope she feels better soon.

I'd go back in. Could be the wrong antibiotic. Could be a secondary infection.

I am recovering from a sore throat now, but mine started as tonsillitis and ended up as a peritonsillar abscess. I was in hospital for nine days and on several very strong IV antibiotics as well as fluids, analgesics and steroids. The abscess was aspirated eventually when I was not progressing on antibiotics. Luckily, it cost me nothing as I live in a country with universal health care.

I had, and still have a very sore neck which is painful to turn. This is because of swollen glands.

My doctor said that the main danger sign was fevers and temperatures. If I start getting these again I am to return to hospital. Also, make sure that your daughter is well hydrated. Sore throats and difficulty swallowing can lead to reduced fluid intake which just makes everything worse. If she is not progressing with antibiotics by 72 hours, then it's off to the doctor.

Good luck!

Call the doctor, don't make another appointment. A nurse should be able to help you out. If not, the nurse should be able to talk to the doctor and call you back.

I highly doubt the doctor would need to actually see your daughter again. Most of the time seeing her the first time is enough. If the meds aren't doing their job, the doctor should be able to decide on the next course of treatment without actually seeing the patient.

I think you got some great ideas - alternating Tylenol and Motrin, using Chloraseptic Spray. Those treatments can really help take the edge off until the meds do their job.

But definitely call your doctor.

Unless your doctor says otherwise, give the antibiotics until they are gone and/or exactly as directed. Sometimes people need more than one round or a stronger type, but you have to wait and see if the first works.

Gamma G mentioned antibiotics not helping viruses, which is true.
However, a strep infection is *always* bacterial. Strep is shorthand for the streptococcus family of bacteria.

Now that said, if she was diagnosed with strep but they didn't do a culture, she might not actually have strep. I had a wicked sore throat with H1N1 flu virus. It felt like I was swallowing glass. There was nothing to be done but wait it out.

did you give her any Tylenol to help with the swelling?

I've had two separate friends have a child on an antibiotic that didn't work and had to get a stronger one. I'm betting if you call and to tell them you aren't seeing a difference they may be able to send in a new prescription without even having to go back in. However, expect the antibiotic to be a lot pricier.

If the strep is viral the antibiotics won't touch it. Strep runs it's course in less than a week usually.

I would call the dr. They may need to give her something stronger. If they say she needs to be seen take her back.

That does not sound good.
Call the Doc for a follow up.
Definitely.
Call the Doc.
See if they can prescribe ANOTHER antibiotic, over the phone and call the pharmacy

Strep can be very serious....
If your daughter cannot even smile or turn her head, how can she even eat or drink?
I hope she was diagnosed properly. Did they do a Strep test?

She needs another family, of antibiotics.
Call the Doctor now and tell them.
Your daughter does not seem to be getting better at all.