To not get him tested

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Son started with a temperature last night. With calpol I managed to get it down, but it’s was still 38+ and he was shivering and shaking with it. His breathing started to get faster and his inhaler was having no effect, so I called 111. I am almost sure it’s not covid, it’s something he gets regularly, but I was worried about him. Eventually 111 doctor called back and said we needed to be seen, but didn’t want to send us to the hospital when he had covid symptoms, so sent us to a walk in. We got to see the doctor who checked his temperature (still 38) and looked in his ears. Doctor declared the temperature had caused the heavy breathing and the shakes and said it was just viral and to take him home. I asked if he needed a covid test and the doctor said since we hadn’t been anywhere, he didn’t need testing. I’ve spoken to family/friends this morning who have all said we should be isolating and getting at least him tested. So now I’m not sure what to do? So am I unreasonable to not get him tested?

Anyone with a new temperature should be tested, it's possible he has a viral infection and is an asymptomatic carrier of covid, it could be that covid is the viral infection that caused it. If anyone in your house is seeing other people he should get tested otherwise you risk passing on a virus that has killed more than 100,000 people in this country to everyone you see.

If your whole household is staying within your own house or garden with no possible contact with anyone else for at least 10 days then I guess you could say testing would make no difference.

If you're worried, it's easy to get a test for your own peace of mind. A drive in test is so easy. Or a walk in test, or a home test?

Strange advice from the doctor.

If your whole haven’t been anyway for 10 days and not planning on going anywhere at all for 10 days then I wouldn’t bother with testing.

But, if you’re planning on going food shopping or for a walk I would.

We got tested today as one DC had a brief temp but didn’t want to be responsible for giving it to others so will isolate until negative...
Hopefully negative.

Of course you should get him tested, unless every member of the household has been isolated for the past ten days and nobody has passed anything eg groceries, mail into the house.

It's such a quick and simple thing to do, just so you and the rest of the family know when normal service can resume.

You need to get him tested, unless the whole household is happy to not heave the house/garden for 14 days .

I'd get him tested. DS had a bit of a temperature this week and I got him tested - booked at 9.30am for a slot at 10am. Walked there, did the test, got the results back by 8pm that night. I knew it was a cold but it was also the right thing to do - I was also conscious that if he deteriorated (he gets quite wheezy), it would be the first thing that any medical professional would ask and I didn't want DS to be delayed in getting any help because they assumed it was Covid (as they would rightly do at the moment).

I asked if he needed a covid test and the doctor said since we hadn’t been anywhere, he didn’t need testing

The doctor's an idiot then.

For all he/she knows, he could've caught it off you and you might be asymptomatic.

‘It’s just viral’ - Covid-19 is a virus.

The Dr shouldn’t have said that and yes you should test him and the household should isolate.

When I get any of the top 3 covid symptoms regardless of what I think it could be I get a test. I do the same with anyone in my household.

Are you sure this person was actually a doctor?

"It's just viral". FFS.

Just get him tested, it's peace of mind and you can do the right thing if he does have it.

Covid IS a virus ffs

Oh, for pity's sake. If the doctor said that, they're an idiot. We're seeing far more positive kids this peak. Isolate and test.

He needs to be tested and the entire household needs to isolate for 10 days unless a negative result is returned.

Thinking on this further, I think I would be raising this with the doctor's practice manager or similar. Advising against a test with such symptoms is completely irresponsible and if he has done it with you he's probably done it to many other patients too.

Ok thanks! I was really confused when he said it was just a virus because covid is a virus, and where would he have got it from if he thinks he couldn’t have caught covid? I’ve booked a test, dreading it, but hopefully it’ll be clear and we will stay in until I get the results

Eventually 111 doctor called back and said we needed to be seen, but didn’t want to send us to the hospital when he had covid symptoms, so sent us to a walk in.

Also, I'm struggling to see the logic in this ^^

He needs a test. If you don’t want to get him tested then the whole household needs to self isolate for the next 10 days (more for anyone else who comes down with symptoms).

To back up the op my DH had an ear infection a few weeks ago, when he arrived they checked his temp, found it to be high & made him wait in a separate room.
Doc confirmed ear infection & said no need for covid test despite temp, as DH just had a virus.
I panic about everything so we all got a test -was very surprised the doctor had said not to.

You say he hasn't been anywhere to catch it, so that must mean nobody in your family has been out, or in contact with anyone else in the last week or so? Because if one of you is going to work, school or the shops then you could have transferred it to your DS.

If he went nowhere to catch covid, how did he catch a viral thing anyway

@DianaT1969 we are working from home and food is delivered. The only time we’ve been out is for walks. It’s one of the reasons why I find him being ill so frustrating.

@30not13 that’s what I thought when the doctor said it!