Testing - What about under 5s?

[Blondiecub0109]

Hi, just seen on breaking news that everyone over 5 y.o. Will be able to get a CV test, which I believe is a major positive step forward.

However, please can someone knowledgable explain to me, why not under 5s? Because they are largely asymptomatic?

I know a family of 5 self isolating cos one for their toddlers (twins) spiked a temperature. They now thing is a tooth coming through - but that them having to stay in with 3 preschoolers.

Little kids get all sorts of bugs, it would be extremely useful to know if it’s CV or, much more likely, something else?

Yes, it does make year R harder as some of them will still be 4.

Apparently to book a test for under 5s you call 111 rather than book on web, that's what the press conference said earlier today?

Once schools go back this might have to change in order to access fast tests as the 111 line is really busy.

Is it because of the difficulties with the throat swab?

I think it would be really hard to get an uncontaminated back of the throat swab from a child under 5.

@Barbie222 thanks. I haven’t seen the press conference, just the headline.

I was musing the other day, reflecting on the fact DS was all winter last year, that even once nursery goes back we’d be constantly self isolating with this or that temperature or cough - and paying for the privilege

Having done a test (was randomly selected for a Postal one no symptoms) and having young child I would say the chances of getting a good swab test from a child under 5 would be almost zero! You have to literally swab your tonsils and an inch up each nostril !!

As others have said I think it will just be hard to test DC under 5

@jessy2018 thanks for the insight.
DS was quite ill with breathing difficulties end of last year and I’m sure he had a throat swab on more than one occasion. He was under 1 and ill enough to be quite floppy on occasion, so maybe more compliant. I can imagine trying to do three swipes on a 2,3or 4 y.o. strapped into a car seat in a drive in centre, would be like taming an octopus

@Blondiecub0109 haha yes quite ! Trying to get my LO to take multivitamins from a syringe is enough of a task I can’t imagine trying to get a swab down her throat !