How careful/paranoid should I be?

[WAMS]

So the last few days I have had a headache that won't shift with paracetamol etc. 2 days ago one of my teenage DCs said he had earache which is getting worse. My other teenage DC has a very sore throat today. I don't want to be lax, what with an elderly disabled mum, but nor do I want to over react to the slightest sniffle. However it's looking like we have a bug in the house...so should we get tested, do we avoid people, or given none of it looks like covid symptoms particulalry do we carry on as usual? I really dont know!

[frozendaisy]

Don't be paranoid, get tested, sounds unlikely but I am not a medic.

[Augustbreeze]

How often do you see your mum? I'd avoid seeing anyone vulnerable if at all possible.

I would have said go get a test but capacity seems to have gone right down recently. Other countries and the WHO have a far longer list of possible coronavirus symptoms::

www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_3

Most common symptoms:

• fever.
• dry cough.
• tiredness.

Less common symptoms:

• aches and pains.
• sore throat.
• diarrhoea.
• conjunctivitis.
• headache.
• loss of taste or smell.
• a rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes.

So you do have symptoms, just not the NHS's "main" ones....

Of course, it might just be a heavy cold or another virus.

[Augustbreeze]

It is possible to book a test without any of the three main symptoms, although not officially "recommended". I don't feel it's wrong to get tested under these circumstances if there is capacity near you.

[WAMS]

Thanks for the advice Augustbreeze....seems to be good availibility here so will get tested.

[Augustbreeze]

Hope you're all OK. Are your DC due back at school this week?

[RealityExistsInTheHumanMind]

Vulnerable people are not just vulnerable to Covid. Other viruses can have exactly the same consequences.