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Original poster

My friend has tested positive with none of the 3 symptoms BBC has just said to look out for.

130 replies

Destinysdaughter · 02/08/2020 22:45

They are:.
High temperature
Consistent cough
Loss in taste or smell

My friend had none of the above, she had aches, fatigue and diarrhoea, she only got a test as I was concerned about her odd symptoms and we were planning to go visit my sister who has asthma and is 60. She had no idea she had it, so really, what I'm saying is, the information that is being put out is wholly inaccurate and shouldn't be regarded as the holy grail for what constitutes symptoms as obviously they are much more varied about this. I'm pissed off about this as it feels like dangerous disinformation and if you have the above symptoms you may have no idea you have it and will be out and about spreading it to others ...

OP posts:
mrbob · 02/08/2020 22:48

I think after 5 months there has been a fair amount of information about what weird and wonderful symptoms are associated it. Or no symptoms at all

FourPlasticRings · 02/08/2020 22:49

I see your point, but there probably needs to be a line somewhere. Can you imagine trying to get a test booked in if everyone with any sort of illness at all needed one? I guess they've just identified the main ones and gone from there.

DelphiniumBlue · 02/08/2020 22:50

I had the same symptoms as your sister, none of the other symptoms. I really didn't think I had it for the first 10 days, but when it stretched into weeks I realised it was a possibility.
It really needs to be publicised that the symptoms are so varied, and that absence of a temperature or a cough does not mean you haven't got it. Even hospitals seem to be failing here- I was recently temperature tested before being allowed in for an appointment for something else. It meant nothing.

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 02/08/2020 22:51

Are you taking part in the Kings College Covid Symptom study? It's an app for you to log on to daily. Your friend's symptoms are recognised on there along with some very interesting research findings.

Blurp · 02/08/2020 22:51

As @FourPlasticRings says, they have to draw a line somewhere. The majority of cases present with at least one of the listed symptoms. Of course some people will have less common symptoms (or no symptoms), but if they started listing those then the lines for testing centres would be unmanageable.

That seems to be one of the difficulties with Covid, the range of symptoms is so variable.

Hope your friend feels better soon!

Redolent · 02/08/2020 22:52

The UK’s list of symptoms is widely accepted to be inadequate. We only added loss of taste/smell months after many other countries did.

This is the more comprehensive list put out by the CDC in the US:

———

“People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea”

Redolent · 02/08/2020 22:54

@Blurp

As *@FourPlasticRings* says, they have to draw a line somewhere. The majority of cases present with at least one of the listed symptoms. Of course some people will have less common symptoms (or no symptoms), but if they started listing those then the lines for testing centres would be unmanageable.

That seems to be one of the difficulties with Covid, the range of symptoms is so variable.

Hope your friend feels better soon!

I guess you could tell people to have a test if they experience 3+ of the symptoms I listed above. That would rule out some minor ailments.
TheWhalrus · 02/08/2020 22:56

Another thing to bear in mind: it was still flu season when the original list was compiled. I would think the Govt wanted to avoid having everyone who feels a little unwell from demanding s test and/or going to A&E.

Otherwise, I understand your frustrations, but this is a novel virus (with novel symptoms) that nobody completely understands.

Realitea · 02/08/2020 23:02

I’ve had the same as your sister since Friday. 😯

XiCi · 02/08/2020 23:03

Well if she had aches, fatigue and diarrhoea she shouldn't gave been planning to visit your sister anyway. Even if it wadnt covid it was clear she had some sort of virus or infection that could have been passed on.

KitchenConfidential · 02/08/2020 23:05

Well if she had aches, fatigue and diarrhoea she shouldn't gave been planning to visit your sister anyway. Even if it wadnt covid it was clear she had some sort of virus or infection that could have been passed on.
This

Original poster
Destinysdaughter · 02/08/2020 23:06

Redolent yes thank you for that, I was aware of the wider list of symptoms, which is why I encouraged my friend to get a test, because they fitted that profile. But they don't fit the profile which the BBC news literally just announced on the news. I think they should be publicising that list, especially now that cases are rising again. Accurate, reliable information from trusted sources is so important right now!

OP posts:
HarveySchlumpfenburger · 02/08/2020 23:07

@Blurp

As *@FourPlasticRings* says, they have to draw a line somewhere. The majority of cases present with at least one of the listed symptoms. Of course some people will have less common symptoms (or no symptoms), but if they started listing those then the lines for testing centres would be unmanageable.

That seems to be one of the difficulties with Covid, the range of symptoms is so variable.

Hope your friend feels better soon!

That’s fine, but we’ll have to give up the pretence that our test and rack system is in any way functional. Not only are we not asking people to get tested (and the symptoms the OP describes aren’t exactly rare with COVID.) but it makes our abysmal tracking system look even worse and even less use.

If we’re not going to encourage everyone that needs a test to get one, then the only solution this winter is that anyone who has the wider symptoms must stay at home and self isolate for 10days. Presumably along with their household.

Original poster
Destinysdaughter · 02/08/2020 23:08

Well if she had aches, fatigue and diarrhoea she shouldn't gave been planning to visit your sister anyway. Even if it wadnt covid it was clear she had some sort of virus or infection that could have been passed on.

Yes, but they're not on the bloody list! She was shocked to learn she had it. Especially as she's been at home for most of the time and it was probably her teenage daughter who's been going to pubs and parties that she probably got it from.

OP posts:
Dinocan · 02/08/2020 23:13

I had read that quite a lot of people present with gastric symptoms. I’m sure they labelled it as ‘gastric Covid’.

housemdwaswrong · 02/08/2020 23:15

I don't know that it's entirely reasonable to say she shouldn't have been planning on visiting with those symptoms. I would have: aches and fatigue could literally be hundreds if not thousands of things from doing too much or too little through to arthritis or sleeping on a crap mattress or not sleeping because it's too warm. The diarrhoea I'd have expected to have gone by tomorrow and just be something I'd eaten. If I was planning to visit say on Wednesday it wouldn't even have crossed my mind to group them all together as a set of symptoms.

Ongoing for a few weeks is different but for a day or two, no.

LilyPond2 · 02/08/2020 23:22

covid.joinzoe.com/post/skin-rash-covid
Kings College/Zoe people are saying that a rash should be added as a fourth "official" symptom of Covid. For over a fifth of people who reported a rash and were confirmed as having Covid, the rash was their only symptom.
Attached link includes photos with examples of rashes associated with Covid.

Whatwouldyoudo22 · 02/08/2020 23:23

There has been information everywhere for months saying that you can have it with no symptoms.

XiCi · 02/08/2020 23:26

Yes, but they're not on the bloody list!
So what! I'm sure you or your sister or anyone else for that matter wouldn't have relished getting a non covid infection with aches, pains, diarrhoea and fatigue. It's not just covid that you should be wary of passing on to people.

Chloemol · 02/08/2020 23:27

Same symptoms as my friend, however they are not the main symptoms seen in the majority, and if every symptom was listed it would be pages long

And don’t forget for some there are no symptoms

GabsAlot · 02/08/2020 23:29

theres lots of sumtpms some rarer than others theres a list somewhere-she just had the rarer ones

has he told her daughter to isolate

GabsAlot · 02/08/2020 23:30

symptoms*

streamlinedcaverns · 02/08/2020 23:30

Does the kings college app advise people to get a test or is just an information collection app ?

goldfinchfan · 02/08/2020 23:32

OP you are right the symptoms the BBC put up are not typical.

I had the high fever but no cough. I had sore throat headache pain in muscles fatigue and confusion.
Also diarrohea.

It is too narrow then people dismiss their symptoms and will go out and spread the COvid.

So it is actually dangerous to keep giving out wrong info

CrowdedHouseinQuarantine · 02/08/2020 23:33

well this is why everyone needs to keep their distance!
not too difficult