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Original poster

Do you think there’s a risk of people assuming every illness they have is coronavirus?

79 replies

Purpleclownsuit · 07/04/2020 15:29

I keep seeing a lot of people saying things like “I’ve had a mild case of coronavirus” “I only had a headache and sore throat with my coronavirus” etc. Is there a risk that people will assume they’ve already had it when they actually just had a cold? And then they’ll slack off on their isolation assuming they’re immune?

I know some people who’ve been tested have it very mild but it’s making me nervous to see people who aren’t tested assuming they’ve had it based on whatever they’ve read online about other peoples experiences.

OP posts:
catscatscatseverywhere · 07/04/2020 15:34

I think so. Without testing we cannot be sure, hence still staying home and worrying.

Paintforkitchen · 07/04/2020 15:36

I think there are a very large number of people doing this!

MangoesAreMyFavourite · 07/04/2020 15:39

Of course. And it is best that people take it all seriously.

Just not think that they are now immune unless they've actually been tested.

Missfelipe · 07/04/2020 15:47

I feel like there is a lot of this...a dream for attention seekers and hypochondriacs...hopefully they realise that they simply cannot be sure and must continue to follow guidelines...

Iwantacookie · 07/04/2020 15:51

I think they're trying to convince themselves more that because theyve had it mild they will be fine. Not so they can go out and flout the rules just for their own piece of mind.

PowerslidePanda · 07/04/2020 15:53

Most definitely. Before there were even confirmed cases in this country, people were posting on here saying, "I have a runny nose and feel lousy - scared I have coronavirus!" So yes, I think there will be quite a high number of people who've convinced themselves they've had it when they haven't.

Bimbleboo · 07/04/2020 15:56

This is something I have been thinking too. Every forum, and all social media is packed with threads where people say they’ve had THE EXACT SYMPTOMS and are adamant that means they’ve had it now. People seem to have forgotten the barrage of coughs, colds, flu, tonsillitis, migraines, hay fever, pms and literally anything else that we all have brief stints with through the year. As well as A lot of mild ‘symptoms’ of things we probably don’t usually even notice because we are busy working and parenting and not being bombarded with media about a deadly virus we might catch.
It’s gutting we have no testing but none of the long threads about people convinced they have got it or had it have brought me much comfort because I’m yet to see many who have actually been tested and confirmed.

Also- a lot of the symptoms people say they have, can very easily be brought in by stress or anxiety. I’ve had terrible migraines and been breathless with a heavy aching chest for about a month on and off. It’s anxiety , self perpetuating as I wonder ‘oh shit is this it’

Sooverthemill · 07/04/2020 15:58

Yes of course because it's all a bit vague flu/cold like symptoms isn't it until it becomes severe and then it's obvious. I think that's why you have to act as if you do have it. But I guess it's the best way to act but not to assume a mild cold in February was it and you can now flounce around everywhere. FWIW my DH thinks he has it at least 3 times a day and is driving me insane. He wants his temperature taken every 5 minutes. Grr

NotEverythingIsBlackandwhite · 07/04/2020 15:58

Yes. I haven't heard anyone say they think they have a cold.

As a PP said, the danger is that they may think, erroneously, that they're immune to CV now and be less stringent with social distancing.

Poetryinaction · 07/04/2020 16:05

Yes I was thinking this too.

olivehater · 07/04/2020 16:08

There is also the worry for people that work won’t be quite so understanding for a second bout of isolation. I can already feel it being an issue in my nhs job if one of my kids gets sick again.

middleager · 07/04/2020 16:11

Yes, I was ill for 5 days last week.
Usually I'd have edged for tonsilitis, but we just don't know as there were anomalies, like a cough for example and high temperature.

I just say to work, I was ill with tonsilitis type symptoms, but who knows?

This is the problem.

noblegiraffe · 07/04/2020 16:12

Yes, when people were coming back from Italian school ski trips they had to be isolated if they ‘developed symptoms’. They were then tested and returned to school because none of them actually had it.

JKScot4 · 07/04/2020 16:14

My DDs fiancé was really unwell last week but we are assuming bad cold/flu, they are both wfh so no going out and he’s much better now, they didn’t assume Covid 19.
The look at me folk will be saying every sniffle is Covid 19, god help them if they genuinely get it 🙄

middleager · 07/04/2020 16:16

This is true noble
Doesn't help my DS went skiing to Italy in half term (he was fine) but lots were testing from the group "just in case" (you could get tested then if you had a cough or cold type symptoms returning from Italy).

But when he got a fever for 2 days 3 weeks ago and I was ill, the brain can go into overdrive!

But I'd never assume we had it.
Just wish we could know either way.

Original poster
Purpleclownsuit · 07/04/2020 16:19

There is also the worry for people that work won’t be quite so understanding for a second bout of isolation.

I hadn’t thought of this! That’s a lot of pressure to be under :(

OP posts:
Menora · 07/04/2020 16:21

I’m on the other end that I was/am ill and it’s assumed by everyone I have had it, whereas I am conscious I may well not have and am at risk and perhaps even more so now

viccat · 07/04/2020 16:36

Yes, absolutely. I'm also hearing lots of people saying they think they had it in December... even though it's being proven the virus hadn't started spreading by then.

Bluntness100 · 07/04/2020 16:41

Yes I think less than seven percent of the population have had it, estimated, so 93 percent have not, and people seem to think the cold has ceased to exist. Lots of folks think they have had it, which I think is a bit odd.

middleager · 07/04/2020 16:49

Yeh, what I don't want right now is to have had tonsillitis and when I do go out (if my immune system is low) be more vulnerable to being ill - with something worse - again.
And work's patience would indeed run out.

I've been quarantined in my room for a week whereas I'd normally be downstairs after recovery.

onemouseplace · 07/04/2020 16:53

Yes, definitely. We've had a really nasty head cold with a horrible sore throat - fairly sure it's not been Covid-19 as very much above the neck, no temperature, no cough and no aches/ pains. Felt crap, but still paranoid that it might be IT.

Eve · 07/04/2020 16:58

... me currently!!

hayfever is in full flow but now got a cough which I don't normally have with hayfever, just normally a bit wheezy.

Trying to work out if normal hayfever or the virus! and I'm not normally an anxious person!

cinammonbuns · 07/04/2020 17:05

Yes also I do think a lot of people are having psychomatic symptoms

Bagelsandbrie · 07/04/2020 17:08

Hmm I’m not sure. We’re over flu / cold season and as said to me by a doctor on 111 two weeks ago when I had the most awful coronavirus symptoms- “If there’s a pandemic and you’re having symptoms of the virus causing the pandemic then it’s probably safe to assume you have said virus”. That’s part of the reason why they’re not testing everyone, MOST people are going to get it.

mindproject · 07/04/2020 17:10

The list of coronavirus symptoms is a very long list, it's pretty much a list of all the symptoms there ever was for everything. No wonder everyone thinks they have it.