People referring to covid as a cold

[ellie09]

On Monday I tested positive for covid. Felt horrible and took a test (even though you dont need to anymore), as I work in an office.

I have had covid a few times, as I have a really crap immune system. Ive also had several colds over the years which I tested negative for covid.

My DS came down with the sniffles last night and a cough. I rang his dad as he was meant to be staying at his dads, and he lives with his elderly mum. I told him the situation and that DS would be better staying home for a few days isolating with me (we dont know if its covid as he wont let me test him, but we can assume)

Ive felt utterly awful and like each time i've had it, my chest is in pain and it feels like someone's standing on my chest 24/7. There is a big difference between the times I had a cold, and covid (but I cant speak for others)

DS's dad brushes it off, tells me covids made up and its "just a cold" and that DS should still go round. I rang DS grandmother seeing as its her house and explained, she basically said to me, "yeah, you just have a cold, thats not real".

Is this a normal reaction now? People have covid and its just brushed off as a cold, therefore people are out spreading knowingly?

@Fluufer and @TempestTost this paper is on the US population because that is where the research was done. There is no reason to assume we wouldn’t see a similar picture here.
https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-01-31-covid-19-leading-cause-death-children-and-young-people-us

1 in 100,000 children and young people. And it doesn't say whether those children were otherwise fit and healthy, just that the death was directly caused by covid. I'm not really sure why you think that proves your point. There are apparently 7 other things children and young people are more likely to die of, per that link.

Given that 1 in 100,000 children dying and the greater number with long covid aren’t enough for you, you’re right of course, you don’t need to be concerned about Covid 🙄
https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/30-08-2022-life-as-a-young-person-with-long-covid---you-go-through-so-many-phases-of-up-and-down--it-s-like-being-on-a-rollercoaster-forever

You said "Covid leaves many young people and fit, healthy young adults disabled by long covid and it kills a good number too. There are many more robust scientific papers and examples, but you are capable of finding them for yourself if you are interested". You have failed to produce said robust scientific paper, so I'm not sure why you thought I'd be able to find them.

@Fluufer
https://adc.bmj.com/content/108/7/e12.abstract
https://heart.bmj.com/content/109/2/119.abstract
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00039-8/fulltext
https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.14814/phy2.15940
If you want further information, you can look for it yourself.

1 in 100,000 is not "a lot" or "many".

The thing is, most young people don't die of anything.

The most common things they die of are accidents - especially car accidents - that's #1, murder, or suicide.

Cancer and heart disease are also more common causes of death in young people than COVID. Think about that for a moment - how many kids do you know that have died of heart disease?

@Leniriefenstahl You seem very opinionated about Covid

Uhm, giving an opinion on a thread about Covid. Where the discussion is about Covid. So, yes, I have been giving my opinions about Covid, on this thread that is about Covid. If you notice, I don’t give any opinions about Covid on threads on other topics, such ch as pots and pans, or general issues. The weird one here seems to be you!

Thanks for trying to do the right thing OP.
There are some that think all viruses are made up - what can you do?

Wish more were like you OP.

The thing is you’re so triggered that some people have a different opinion. That some people think it’s still a big deal. That some people actually bother to test. And that some people are quite ill with it and god help us actually suffer long term side effects from it. Why ?
Fwiw I worked in crit care throughout Covid, still do and have done for 25 years plus. I saw the damage it caused to young and old. I wasn’t sitting at home being an arm chair warrior policing people’s thoughts.

The thing is you’re so triggered that some people have a different opinion

Triggered? Are you 15yo? What are you on about. I gave an opinion on a forum with a discussion about Covid. I’m not ‘triggered’, whatever that newfangled buzzword actually means. And, nor am I some armchair warrior, worked frontline clinical for several decades. It’s a forum, not everyone’s opinion aligns with either yours (have no idea what that is btw) or mine. We are all allowed to agree or disagree with people. There’s no need to throw in juvenile buzzwords if people disagree (I’m taking it you have a different opinion to mine, can’t be bothered looking).

Lots of people saying why test etc. I don’t care if it’s cold or covid, I don’t want it either way and I wish my sick colleagues who can work from home would stop coming into the office and spreading it around. Fine if you can’t wfh but if you can why be so inconsiderate

Suspect my son has covid, so wasn’t keen on sending him to grandparents, one of whom has a lung condition…they don’t believe covid is real though!

Even a situation as bonkers as this has some people shrugging. The mere possibility of not wanting to deliberately put someone in a harmful situation is such a strange concept to some. How on earth did we get here?! Even with testing, there's always the odd poster that apparently seems mystified by it, despite tests being clearly displayed in chemists and supermarkets.

@HoppingPavlova thankfully your view point is in a minority. At least there are people with some common sense. Frontline clinical, probs as a vet.

@Leniriefenstahl Frontline clinical, probs as a vet

Wasn't going to dignify your lunacy with a response but may as well. No, I’m not a veterinarian. An actual qualified doctor, several decades experience. consultant level A&E, until recently when I moved out of frontline and onto a nice seat suiting my tired old fat bum. Still have many friends on the floor, including best friend who has worked ICU for decades. They have exactly the same opinions I do. We have all seen seasonal deaths and/or sequela over too many years. We may be in the minority, if you say so. Why would we care if we are? Why are you trying to stop people having opinions different to yours?

I have a bit of a tendency to post viral
reactions dating back to my 20s - I’m in my 50s now. I’m still coughing and struggling to regain my fitness over a month after my last respiratory virus, which I think was covid.

I agree that it’s always been an issue. I guess a couple of things mean that covid has made a difference to how it’s seen -

Firstly there were more people impacted by it at once as no one had immunity. So it was far more visible (possibly worse too but I’m not an expert).

Secondly, this meant that it was taken more seriously and understood better - historically it has been seen as a psychological issue and people given bad advice based on that. It was slowly changing but at a snails pace.

There is now money being directed at services for post viral conditions/long covid. So that’s positive.

I do think it’s good that it’s now recognised more, taken seriously and treated. It can be extremely debilitating for some (I know someone who went from fit/healthy/physical job to can barely walk to the shop).

I wouldn’t say it’s hysteria to have concerns about it and want to be careful. Especially if you have seen first hand what can happen. Seeing some go from fit, healthy, happy, working to completely disabled and unable to work in a matter of weeks is pretty scary. It’s just human to be concerned by that idea. You then weigh up the risks (likelihood/severity) and decide how to act.

Personally, I think staying away if you can, letting people know you are ill if you can’t, is just good manners and considerate. I think the OP did the right thing. Then it’s their informed choice.

Agreed @Completelyneutralname I don't get the whole "we've always had post viral illness, it's nothing to be dramatic about" when what doctors kept telling me was "just" post viral fatigue in my twenties cost my much loved career and led to me spending a year of my twenties largely stuck at home.

We need all forms of post viral illness to be given more attention. It's sad people are so dismissive of the symptoms/impact. One of the most brilliant and dedicated people at my work now can only work a few hours a week due to long covid. And they only battle to do that because they have lost so much else.

If you really are a doctor then it is utterly revolting to be so dismissive about post viral symptoms.

They can be devastating and ruin lives and if you don't know that then you need to go and educate yourself.

@SweetSakura If you really are a doctor then it is utterly revolting to be so dismissive about post viral symptoms

I’m not dismissive? I’ve said it’s real, it exists. My point being IT ALWAYS HAS EXISTED, it just didn’t have the name it has now. Post viral sequelae has always existed to varying degrees, affecting different individuals to different degrees. I don’t need to educate myself on it, I’m well versed thanks. I refuse the current narrative that it’s new, because it’s not.

Yeah it's always existed but how often does a virus come about that infected 7 out of 10 people and with a 10-30% incidence of post viral symptoms and would you not expect an increase in awareness going with the fact that 2m people have ongoing problems?