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Covid

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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:
10storeylovesong · 03/08/2020 07:50

I felt slightly unwell last week - fatigue, nausea, chills, sore throat. I was aware that covid presents with many symptoms, so I ordered a home test. I stayed at home until I got the results. I ordered it Thursday, it arrived Friday and I posted back the same day. I got the results 6am Sunday morning. Fortunately it was negative. But I am an adult who has taken my own responsibility to read up on symptoms, not just a snapshot on the daily news, and took responsibility for my own actions. It's really not hard.

C8H10N4O2 · 03/08/2020 07:51

Re the BBC's approach, it is irresponsible to uncritically report the government official advice without making clear that the actual list of symptoms associated with Covid is much longer!

Oh for heaven's sake do you live under a rock? The BBC and other news broadcasters have practically been the CV news in recent months, much as they were the Brexit news previously.

There have been loads of programmes and articles on this subject. The only place those three symptoms are listed in isolation is the pages labelled "government/NHS advice".

WTAF are they supposed to do, lie about the official advice?

The BBC has no shortage of faults but this is bloody ridiculous.

Twinkletwinklechocbar · 03/08/2020 07:52

Sorry op but it's widely known that Covid has lots of different symptoms. The BBC is simply listing the main ones.

Also, your friend should not be visiting people when feeling unwell anyway.

ineedaholidaynow · 03/08/2020 08:02

Why in the middle of the pandemic would anyone plan to visit someone if they felt ill, whether it fitted the general COVID symptoms or not.

Coffeeandbeans · 03/08/2020 08:07

Anyone can go and tested. They are under utilised there are thousands of slots across the country. The Army set one up in my works car park every weekend. Nobody cares if you go and get tested because you think you may have it but are not showing symptoms. You are not telling a lie. If anyone wants a test just do it.

Silverbirch89 · 03/08/2020 08:17

There is a lot of information on the zoe app about the different type of symptoms e.g

covid.joinzoe.com/post/covid-clusters

Although continuous cough, fever and loss of smell (anosmia) are usually highlighted as the three key symptoms of COVID-19, data gathered from app users shows that people can experience a wide range of different symptoms including headaches, muscle pains, fatigue, diarrhoea, confusion, loss of appetite, shortness of breath and more.* The progression and outcomes also vary significantly between people, ranging from mild flu-like symptoms or a simple rash to severe or fatal disease.

To find out whether particular symptoms tend to appear together and how this related to the progression of the disease, the research team used a machine learning algorithm to analyse data from a subset of around 1,600 users in the UK and US with confirmed COVID-19 who had regularly logged their symptoms using the app in March and April.

The analysis revealed six specific groupings of symptoms emerging at characteristic timepoints in the progression of the illness, representing six distinct ‘types’ of COVID-19. The algorithm was then tested by running it on a second independent dataset of 1,000 users in the UK, US and Sweden, who had logged their symptoms during May.

All people reporting symptoms experienced headache and loss of smell, with varying combinations of additional symptoms at various times. Some of these, such as confusion, abdominal pain and shortness of breath, are not widely known as COVID-19 symptoms, yet are hallmarks of the most severe forms of the disease.

The six clusters are as follows:
1 (‘flu-like’ with no fever): Headache, loss of smell, muscle pains, cough, sore throat, chest pain, no fever.

2 (‘flu-like’ with fever): Headache, loss of smell, cough, sore throat, hoarseness, fever, loss of appetite.

3 (gastrointestinal): Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, diarrhea, sore throat, chest pain, no cough.

4 (severe level one, fatigue): Headache, loss of smell, cough, fever, hoarseness, chest pain, fatigue.

5 (severe level two, confusion): Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain.

6 (severe level three, abdominal and respiratory): Headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion, muscle pain, shortness of breath, diarrhea, abdominal pain.

Trashtara · 03/08/2020 08:19

the information that is being put out is wholly inaccurate

No it isn't. Something like 83% of people get one of those 3 symptoms. It's an extremely complex disease that presents itself with lots of symptoms at different times, however temperature, cough and loss of taste and/ or smell are the most common.

I do think more people need to consider getting themselves tested whenever they feel unwell though, as there are many presentations.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 03/08/2020 08:20

Just get tested anyway if in any doubt. Dh and I recently did, just to make sure we were clear before a visit. There was hardly anyone else at the test site (a huge car park), no wait at all. Results came within 24 hours.

Dd has found the same where she lives.

Kitcat122 · 03/08/2020 08:20

In our family 4 out of 6 of us got symptoms with Covid. All completely different and no one got a cough. Only one person got a high fever. Our symptoms ranged from rash, sinus pain, ear pain, sickness and diarrhoea, aches, chills, chest pain, shortness of breath, loss of smell, sore throat, mouth ulcers. Only one person was really ill. All presented like totally different illnesses.

MoreW1ne · 03/08/2020 08:21

I think it's pretty well known (from the information that has been given out) that there are a lot of other possible symptoms, they're just not as likely.

It's also very widely known that there are people who have it with absolutely no symptoms at all...imagine how pissed off you'd be then OP!

Not sure why she'd be happy passing on a (likely) virus with diarrhoea and fatigue to your sister anyway.

okiedokieme · 03/08/2020 08:21

Some people have no symptoms at all remember, also it's possible to have two things wrong at once eg by assymptomatic for c19 but have a separate tummy bug. I had the taste and smell thing but it came on 4-5 days after I had a very brief temperature spike (around 4 hours total) I may have missed it as I'm menopausal except I was on high alert as my dp had c19 and a 2 day fever

SteelyPanther · 03/08/2020 08:22

You don’t have any of those symptoms to have Covid.
I’m sick of seeing people having cold symptoms and not knowing whether to go for a test or not.
FGS we are in a pandemic and the test is free.

CrowdedHouseinQuarantine · 03/08/2020 08:31

however the test is not 100% accurate.
social distancing is the best policy,
wash hands.

Silvercatowner · 03/08/2020 08:37

Why in the middle of the pandemic would anyone plan to visit someone if they felt ill, whether it fitted the general COVID symptoms or not.

Chaotic45 · 03/08/2020 08:38

I honestly thought it was common knowledge that there is a rage of other symptoms in addition to the classic ones, and also that it's entirely possible to have no symptoms at all. Hence the requirement for social distancing.

There is no way I'd be leaving my home with those symptoms, and when I'm feeling well I social distance. I had a few days with an upset stomach a few weeks ago and stayed at home for 7 days. My neighbour delivered my shopping etc..

JinglingHellsBells · 03/08/2020 08:42

I think you are blaming the wrong person @Destinysdaughter

The BBC is merely a media outlet; it's not the government or a medical site.

The headlines and the news they put out is often very shallow and they are hardly likely to read out or show a list of possible 20 symptoms. I've stopped watching the BBC news as it's either completely biased or so dumbed down, it's really not worth my time.

The information IS out there- lots of posters have posted it here for you.

Evidently 50% of the first cases in China had gastro symptoms.

Maybe you and your friend should read the broadsheets or access this information online where you'd find a lot more than watching the BBC news.

Gogogadgetarms · 03/08/2020 08:50

You know a person can be positive for Covid-19 and show no symptoms? The BBC are listing the most widely reported symptoms.
I and most people realise and understand you can have Covid-19 without displaying any of the top 3.
I and most people realise and understand you can have Covid-19 whilst displaying other symptoms, aches, diarrhoea, tiredness etc.

This isn’t news.

Gogogadgetarms · 03/08/2020 08:51

@Silvercatowner

Why in the middle of the pandemic would anyone plan to visit someone if they felt ill, whether it fitted the general COVID symptoms or not.
And this.
Jellybeansincognito · 03/08/2020 08:53

‘ 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’

^ 80% of cases are thought to be extremely mild or asymptotic. Anyone could be walking around with it, completely unaware.
It’s pointless being angry about a list of symptoms when this is the reality.

JulyBreeze · 03/08/2020 09:16

The BBC and other outlets are simply repeating the advice which is being given by the NHS, to look out for one of the three main symptoms.

It would be a start if everyone who had one of those actually went and got tested without hesitation. I think we're quite a long way from that tbh.

rc22 · 03/08/2020 09:17

I tested positive and had a temperature but it lasted for literally an hour to an hour and a half then fell again and remained normal. If I'd have blinked I'd have missed it!

JulyBreeze · 03/08/2020 09:18

But I agree that there are many other potential symptoms which warrant testing too, yes.

Chocolateoo · 03/08/2020 09:25

Sil had it last week

Loss of taste and smell
Nausea
Exhaustion
Achy muscle...

Longtalljosie · 03/08/2020 09:29

You’ve complained to the BBC????

Why? Because you think they should be writing NHS guidelines?

BBC (and all media) coverage has made is very clear there are a range of symptoms, and these are the ones the government is highlighting. Including digestive issues and fatigue. You and your sister should pay more attention to the news. Or do you think Fiona Bruce should be coming round to your house with a flip chart?

OrangeCinnamon1 · 03/08/2020 09:33

It is well known that Covid can be symptomless, hence why social distancing is for all. Struggling to see the BBC's role in this.

YABU