Should they isolate due to baby high temperature?

[Plussizejumpsuit]

My sister asked me to ask this as she's not on mumsnet. (I know!)

Her baby aged just under 10 months has a temperature. So do the family need to isolate? Temp is 38.6 previously 39. I don't know if the advice is same for under 1year?

Normally I assume the protocol is isolated until a negative test. But is it the same with a baby? Also how do you test a baby? Anyone got any experience of this?

Sorry if this is a stupid question! She's freaking out a bit and I said I'd ask here.

I’m in same situation, isolating til I get my baby’s swab back.

@Moraxella

I’m in same situation, isolating til I get my baby’s swab back.

How did you get on with doing a swab on your baby? Was it just a regular at home kit / drive through test?

Hope your little one tests negative!

My baby had a temperature with a cold. I was pretty sure the temperature was because of the cold. Tried for 24 hours to get a test while isolating. After 24 hours temp was fine so stopped isolating.

Is she aware of any other reason for the temperature? She needs to watch it going over 39 as that can be dangerous for babies.

Baby needs a covid test unless they can all self isolate for 14 days. Once test is done they need to isolate till results come back.

I did a drive through with 1 yr old, you climb into the back to take the swab and put in a tube and a bag and hand it back out the window. It's pretty straightforward.

@Spanglebangle glad the temp is gone now. She has a 4 year old too so think she'd have to stay off nursery if they isolated while waiting for results or temp to go.

Yes all need to isolate for 14 days unless the baby gets a negative test.

With young kids now they are saying (well where I am anyway) to just do both nostrils which is pretty easy.

@Spanglebangle

You’re not really supposed to just give up
Isolating because you can’t get a test 🙄

@YoBeaches thanks. nothing other than ongoing teething. She isn't snotty or congested.

It's lower than 39 now and she's had calpol. I've had a drive through test myself so know the drill. But wondered if it was the same for little kids. Sounds potentially tough to do. But easier than isolating for 2 weeks.

It's really not that bad. I found it easier to go into the throat than up the nostril. I've had to do it twice due to high temp at nursery and not being allowed back without a negative test.

Plus, they are in a car seat so you're not having to hold them down just keep their hands out of the way.

Yes 4 yr old should stay off nursery too. It's a bummer but it's better to do it. And you actually just don't know that she doesn't have it.

Yes completely agree about not knowing. Although unlikely as she doesn't go to nursery. Bigger one does and adults go out to shops etc. I know my sister would rather be cautious. But wanted to check.

My 10 month old temp keeps going up to the high but calpol and stripping brings it back down. They are also pulling the ear, dribbling and chewing everything.... this is now the 4th teething time and the 4th time of having these symptoms... I know it's not covid. Therefore not wasting a test or anyones time in getting it done.

I had to do my 3 year old as she had a temp for 2 hours.... nursery wouldnt let her back without a negative test. Just did the swab in the nose nice and easy. She threw up on the way home... test was negative..funny that as she had a 24hour tummy bug picked up from nursery (several kids same issue)

Yes covid is dangerous, yes it poses high risk but common sense is needed. Take covid out of the equation... going through the normal checks of what it could be. Monitor the temp, as I understand a covid temp is constant and the person will feel hot to touch and normal things wont cool them down. Also how likely was it that a 10 month old came into contact with someone with covid? If there is a chance then yes caution needed.

4 year old is possible... but have the nursery contacted you with a positive case in their bubble?

But if they have been with mum with mum using a mask and washing hands and not going to high risk areas (mingling with lots of people etc) then it's a lower chance that a small person has picked it up.

Many wont agree with my view here but there are lots of people being way over the top with caution and then others being out right stupid and not being cautious at all...

The temp is constant today. No other teething signs. I think in all honesty a temp with teething signs we'd be less concerned about isolating. I get what you are saying about likely hood of baby having contact and getting it. They have been doing as you described and no cases at nursery.

She has booked baby a test for tomorrow. As it's first sustained temp. But yeah I think if it was obviously teething wouldn't. And I do understand about there being a limited number of tests and if we all tested every baby and child who had a temp for a bit we would be testing them always.

Yes it is the same for babies. Self isolate and have test.
Good luck to your sister

@OverTheRainbow88
We gave up isolating because the temperature went away and he had no other symptoms not because we couldn't get a test.

@Spanglebangle i think you’ve misunderstood the guidance. You are supposed to self isolate for 10 days from the first day with symptoms, whether or not the symptoms go away. You should only cut self isolation short if you get a negative test result. High temperature is a symptom.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/how-long-to-self-isolate/

Hope baby is better soon op.

In ds1s first year his temp was constantly up and down
We'd have been booking tests every week. I think with under 2s there needs to be a sensible balance esp with teething etc so one family aren't ordering 4 tests a month every month

Did the baby feel very hot on their chest and back? It isn't the internal temperature that you go by for testing, but how hot they feel to touch.

Spanglebangle, you were quite right. People seem to have missed the statement that says, 'test if the symptoms are present, with no plausible other cause'. That's been said by both Whitty and Vallance.

@Spanglebangle

All temperatures go away at some point, the point is there was a temp so you should have either got a test or self isolated for ten days... HOW IS THAT DO HARD TO UNDERSTAND?

OP hope your sister’a baby is all fine and well

@Ponoka7

Did the baby feel very hot on their chest and back? It isn't the internal temperature that you go by for testing, but how hot they feel to touch.

This is not true, the advice is that it is not necessary to take your temperature as you can feel the chest or back if you don’t have a thermometer. If you can take the temperature that’s what you go by.

@Ponoka7 I haven't heard that before...that do you have a reference to a link anywhere?

When was it said?

Are people really isolating for 10 days because they had a temperature for one evening with no other symptoms? No wonder no one can get a test. My god use a bit of common sense people or the whole country will grind to a halt.

I'm with SpangleBangle on this one.

Yup agree with spanglebangle

I have had a sore throat and bunged up for 2 days. Took my temp this morning.... 38... high yes.... had a shower, had my breakfast low and behold my temp was down to 36.5. My temp usually sits at about 37.2... my dh 35.6.

A babies temp will vary so rapidly. My little one can be perfectly fine one moment and then a temp half hour later. When tiny they are susceptible to so much especially with an older sibling mixing with all the other germy children.

We really need to be logical about this. Obviously with a small person mother instinct kicks in if you are worried ring 111 but we cant test every single raised temp

@Spanglebangle you are wrong. Any of a temperature, a new continuous cough or change in sense of smell or taste you have to self isolate for 10 days, people in the same household for 14 days and get a test. This is why covid is spreading when people cannot follow the rules!!!