COVID testing in schools - a question

[Scautish]

My son is having a panic as he’s just found out that he will have to have a COVID test at school. His worry is that taking a throat swab will make him gag and he has a real fear of being sick. He doesn’t appear to be bothered by the prospect of a nasal swab.

I’ve looked online regarding lateral flow tests and some say it’s nose and throat, and some say it’s both nostrils.

Does anyone know? Can they choose? What happens for kids who are terrified (my son is very prone to medical anxiety too)?

Any experience would be massively appreciated. Thank you.

I believe it can be just nasal swabs, or you could not give consent if it's going to be a problem for him.

I haven’t given consent for my children to be tested for the same reason. They both have Aspergers and both have said they don’t want to do the throat swab.

My mum is a teacher and has twice weekly lateral flow tests, they’re throat and nose. After gagging my way through a test yesterday (thankfully negative) I certainly wouldn’t put a child through that twice every week

The ones at my work are both, but I recall being told if the throat was too much you could do just nose but it might not be as accurate.

Ideally it is throat and nose, but it does say in the guidance that you can do just nose.

We were sent the "how to swab" leaflet yesterday. There is an option to swab BOTH nostrils rather than the throat and ONE nostril.

I suspect that is because some people don't have tonsils, so that staff and volunteers supervising are unlikely to be concerned.

I would try to reassure your son that it will be ok rather than building up hopes of a particular test.

I’ve had a few of these tests done. It’s not great but it’s really not that uncomfortable. And it’s over really quickly.

Can you encourage him to focus on the positives of doing the test eg doing his bit to keep the community healthy, rather than mechanics of the test itself?

@Madcats

We were sent the "how to swab" leaflet yesterday. There is an option to swab BOTH nostrils rather than the throat and ONE nostril.

I suspect that is because some people don't have tonsils, so that staff and volunteers supervising are unlikely to be concerned.

The guidance also says to swab your tonsils or where your tonsils would be if you've had them removed - makes no difference if you have tonsils or not.

Thank you for getting back to me so quickly. I would like him to try the test but I’m not going to push him as he really looks for reasons to get anxious about life in general. I think I will see if it can be a two-nostril test for him and take it from there.

I’ve not have to have a test myself yet but it really really doesn’t appeal to me (I also have Asperger’s) so I don’t want to put him through something I may not be able to do myself.

Really appreciate all the replies. Thank you.

DD went today, she said it was completely fine, she was told if she couldn't do her throat she could just do nostrils.

I've been volunteering in my children's school's testing centre since the beginning of the year. The initial training materials that we were sent in December showed throat and nose swabs but when I went for face to face training I was told that more recent advice was that swabbing both nostrils is ok. The advice to the school from the local Director of Public Health was that children were to be given both options and if they couldn't or didn't want to swab the tonsil area that it was better to do bith nostrils than not to test at all. I would say the majority are doing just nasal in our school, though some do do the throat swabs.

Also, if it helps at all, we haven't had any children who have consented and then been unable to complete the test and the worst problem anyone has had has been watering eyes for a few minutes after the test.
I had my doubts as to whether the whole thing was feasible, but it's gone like clockwork so far. Obviously the numbers will be a llt higher from next week which will make things more challenging, but I've been pleasantly surprised by how much of a non event it's all been.
There has been absolutely no coercion and if a child doesn't want to be tested on the day, they don't have to be, even if their parents have consented. In fact we have had more issues the other way - the child wants to be tested but the parents haven't sent the consent in.
It's natural to be anxious and the testing isn't what I'd call pleasant, but I think most people are surprised to find that it isn't anywhere near as bad as they'd imagined. And it is over with very quickly.

DD(13) has been doing PCR tests since August. It should become second nature after a couple.

I find it helpful to blow my nose AFTER swabbing as I always have the urge to sneeze!

Thank you for the other comments - these are all helpful. I’m actually quite proud of him. After I posted this I went to chat to him he said

• he had emailed the teacher to ask about the tests and whether it could be nose only
• he was very keen that he should be tested “as I don’t want to put my friends at risk” (heart melted at this point)

I’ve explained to him that

1. We will not ever force him - no one will - and that we have to give consent.
2. It is very likely that it he can get it done nose only (confirmed by teacher)

He is very much calmer - as am I - so thank you all - this thread has been very helpful.