Penicillin injections protect your child from strep bacteria. This is important at the time in their life when they are in close contact with lots of people who could have a strep infection. Strep bacteria can lead to rheumatic fever. It's important to protect your child from getting rheumatic fever again, as this can cause further damage to the heart.
One injection gives your child enough penicillin to fight the strep bacteria for up to 28 days. Having an injection every 28 days means that there is enough penicillin in your child's body to help stop them from getting rheumatic fever again.
Your child will need to keep having regular penicillin injections for 10 years or until they are 21 years old, whichever is longer. Some tamariki may need to continue penicillin injections for longer if they have severe heart valve damage.
It's very important that your child doesn't miss a penicillin injection. Missing one means that your child could get strep throat which can trigger rheumatic fever again.
If you forget an injection, ring your child's nurse to arrange to get your child's next injection as soon as possible.
Find out about an app to help get your bicillin on time every time [1]
Remember to tell your nurse if you are moving house, going overseas, on holiday, or going away. If you are going to be away when your child's injection is due, talk to your nurse beforehand. You can arrange for your child to have the injection early. Or, your nurse may be able to arrange for your child to get their injections elsewhere.
Take your child to your doctor and get a throat swab if they have a sore throat. Your child will need an extra course of antibiotics to increase their protection.
No. The injection won't cause your child to gain weight.
Take a few deep breaths and relax yourself. If you're feeling nervous and upset, then your child will find the experience more difficult.
Supporting your child for the first few injections can help them feel more confident.
You may like to think about saying encouraging things like:
This is more helpful for most tamariki than saying things that make them focus on the injection.
If they are saying it is sore, you can acknowledge their feelings by telling them they are doing a good job and they are trying really hard.
This page last reviewed 10 May 2020.
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Links
[1] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/app-help-get-your-bicillin-time-every-time
[2] https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/contact?from=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kidshealth.org.nz%2Fprint%2F2869%3Flanguage%3Den