Fatigue and loss of voice

[Gillstuck]

What could this be? DC is 11 and had a flu like virus 5 weeks ago. It hit him harder than his brother and the rest of the family. Tested negative for covid at the time. 5 weeks later and he gets tired just coming downstairs and being up for a few hours and has lost his voice completely. Blood tests show nothing unusual and its not glandular fever. We're going back to the GP as he isn't getting better. What might this be? What do I need to ask the GP to test for? I'm very worried.

Hi Op, when did he have his blood test? It may be worth asking for a repeat. It does sound like long covid - my DS had covid and then my DD was super unwell but every test (I think I did 5!) was negative. She was really unwell for a couple of weeks. I’d imagine whatever virus he has has laid him low. I would give him a multivitamin, iron supplements, fresh air and sunshine. Go back to the GP if you’re concerned though.

Thanks for your reply. I had thought it may be long covid, except for the absence of a positive test. It's interesting that your DD didn't test positive when your DS did however. The covid tests I used were at the very end of their shelf life, but still in date, which I wondered about. The bloods were done just last week. It's hard seeing a normally active boy with no energy, missing weeks of school and his friends. He hasn't always been the most robust child when younger. He caught everything going and had it twice as bad as his brother.

We're doing the multivitamins and iron. Sunshine and fresh air sounds good too but I worry about tiring him out so I've been reluctant to push that. I will work something out with exercise. I will go back to the GP too as he isn't really improving.

Bless him - it’s so bizarre isn’t it but if the bloods were clear (assuming full blood count / iron levels checked) then at least anything more serious has been ruled out. My DS had a headache and coughed once when he had covid, and then DD was severely headachey, real pale, couldn’t stand up, sore throat, runny nose, cough and zero energy - but negative on the tests - which I’m now wondering if they were out of date (I didn’t think to check the expiry date!). I hope your son is feeling better soon.

Hi @Gillstuck
My 13 year old has almost exactly what you describe. 5 weeks of no voice and I'm up the wall trying to get an ENT appointment. Did your lad's voice recover?
I came across this thread when trawling through the Internet for info on glandular fever. We're waiting on blood tests so not certain what's up with him, but I could have written your first post.

It sounds like Long Covid. Typically presents after a period of wellness/recovery, however short.

Sadly, Covid tests (in date) miss up to 60% of infections, only positive results actually tell you anything. You also need to do them daily for at least a week, as the virus now typically presents with symptoms way before it shows up on tests (if it does at all). Most effective way to test is swabbing cheek, throat then nose.
However, generally speaking, if it sounds like LC then it probably is. Unfortunately public health has never bothered to warn the public about the risks of Covid and LC in children because it decided the economy was more important. Some of us knew this was bollocks and tried to sound the alarm for 4 years, but no one wanted to listen. And here we are.
If he continues to be unwell, I can recommend the Facebook group Long Covid Kids. Way more practical support than you'll ever find from a medical professional, who've learnt nothing in 4 years.

You are right about the rest, please don't make him exercise. Aggressive rest is key. Ask me how I know.

@Suasthuasanuas I'm sorry to hear about your son. I'm also sorry to say that we are still waiting for our ENT appointment to find out what is going on with his voice. We are seeing a paediatrician at the local hospital who doesn't have much to suggest or offer him, unfortunately.

I suspect the fatigue is Long Covid related, and we are following advice given on help groups and websites to pace himself etc. It's difficult to know what advice to take, and I long for better guidance and direction from the medical professionals. He is starting to show a bit more stamina than he had before, and he is back at school on reduced hours. Everything I've read indicates that children recover well with time and rest. That keeps me going.

We've sought out some alternative therapies for him. We also looked at potential allergies and had someone with some medical knowledge, time (and an open mind!), look at all his blood results. His iron was in 'normal range' but apparently very low for a boy of his age. We started iron supplements, which is making a positive difference.

With your son, at 13, there is also the effect of hormones and puberty to consider? They use so much energy up just growing, this must impact their recovery from a covid type virus? It's a long shot but have you tested for Lyme’s disease? It's a disease carried by infected ticks and it can result in symptoms similar to long covid. It can be treated with antibiotics. I wish you all the best and hope that your son recovers soon.

@Vik71 your post makes a lot of sense and resonates with my experiences so far. Thank you for the advice to check out Long Covid Kids.

@Gillstuck your poor boy. I'm sorry he's still finding things tough. It is so frustrating trying to navigate this when sometimes the whole system feels like it's set up to make everything harder.
Lyme's disease wasn't on my radar, but now that you mention it we were in a tic area during the summer, so that may be another avenue to consider.
Good luck with everything. I really empathise. When your kids aren't well it feels stones in your heart.