Urgent! How to swab a wilful two year old

[Higgeldypiggeldy35]

Hi everyone. Urgent help needed. My two year old has a cough and we have a drive through test booked for 9am. I think it's just a cold as he has a very runny nose but best to be safe. However I can't find any info online about whether we have to do a throat swab. He's very strong and I can't possibly see how we can get a valid swab of his throat. He's very snotty so my plan is to try and clean out his nose with some cotton buds and then do a nose swab. Is that enough? He's a big lad and I'm 5 months pregnant. My husband will be there to help but he'll be driving and sitting in the front. Will a nose swab be sufficient? Thanks in advance.

Get him in the carseat. I followed a YouTube video from Toronto sick kids hospital and that's what they did.

And you really should do both. I found throat ok and bribed with a lolly. Needs must!

You have the advantage of surprise.
Give him something to watch on ipad. I swabbed one tonsil and one nostril. Throat was possibly easiest. I said I'm going to tickle your mouth with a magic wand. You need to be quick and firm. In and out before he realises what's going on.
Good luck!

I was told to do both nostrils on 18m DS

I did just nose with DD this week and it was fine. Came back positive unfortunately, but nose is enough to pick it up clearly. Throat is very hard as it mustn't touch the tongue or cheeks at all else the test is invalid.

Yes I have the advice you need! Absolutely do not do the throat. My poor 4yr old has literally had about 6 tests due to a couple of colds with coughs, with several tests coming back unclear. Eventually they realised its due to doing a throat swab on little ones. They told me at the site that they now recommend no throat swab on littles as if it touches the cheek or teeth etc on way out, tends to render the result unclear. It’s less of an issue with the nose on the Way out apparently.

What we have learned is, show him the sweets he’ll get after, keep him strapped in, and get your husband to lean over the seat to help hold him down while you do it.

I personally wouldn't be putting a 2 Yr old through the test. The nasal swab really hurts if done correctly. It's has to be in there for 5 turns of the swab or 15 seconds and they put it really far up! If you can't guarantee to keep it there for the appropriate time (and I doubt you could with a toddler) then it's pretty much pointless. Sounds like he has cold, I'd keep him home until he feels better. Sars Cov 2 like many other viruses is thought to be most virulent in the 2 days prior to symptoms.

Thanks everyone we've done the test. I prepared him first by cleaning his nostrils with cotton buds and making it into a game and then it wasn't such a shock with the nasal swab. He didn't like it and I had to pin him down but I think it was ok. Luckily didn't have to do a throat swab. Thanks for all the advice!

@JumperTime

I personally wouldn't be putting a 2 Yr old through the test. The nasal swab really hurts if done correctly. It's has to be in there for 5 turns of the swab or 15 seconds and they put it really far up! If you can't guarantee to keep it there for the appropriate time (and I doubt you could with a toddler) then it's pretty much pointless. Sounds like he has cold, I'd keep him home until he feels better. Sars Cov 2 like many other viruses is thought to be most virulent in the 2 days prior to symptoms.

It's not just keeping the child home though is it, it's everyone else in the house including parents one or both of whom presumably also need to earn a living

Exactly we are also in the middle of decorating half the house so have had to tell our decorator to not come today. If my son is positive she will have to isolate for 2 weeks and her wife. At least if we know we can get back to normal in a day or two.

Glad it went ok OP. Yes I’d love to not test my kids as it’s not fun, but I’m a key worker and there’s significant implications to needing to stay at home for 2 weeks when it’s likely a cold l, and have my older child miss school unnecessarily.

Also I agree that the test is horrible when done by a HCP, but I had to do a self test when with my kids the first time and didn’t do it nearly as harshly or for as long, but still got a clear result.

My dd could not get the hang of laying her tongue
Flat so I could see her tonsils and avoid touching cheek/tongue

I had to hold it down with a finger in the end

My advice is to take one of those round flat lollies to use as a tongue depressor and promise it to them to suck Afterwards while You do the nose swab

@mumsnut. That's a very good idea using the lolly. I think my little boy wouldn't safe with a lolly yet. He's only just two but great idea for future thanks

Also I agree that the test is horrible when done by a HCP, but I had to do a self test when with my kids the first time and didn’t do it nearly as harshly or for as long, but still got a clear result.

That's just it though, if done incorrectly there is a high chance of a false negative. False positives are very very rare.

I have to test a 6 month old today, I am so glad I have read this thread and will only do his nose as doing his throat will be absolutely impossible if you aren't allowed to touch the cheeks or tongue.

I am pretty sure it's just a cold but he's had a temp of 40oc and is coughing when awake, not when asleep though. I think it's ridiculous that I have to do this to a 6 month old but the doctor will not even entertain it being anything else until he has a negative test.