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Original poster

When will the govt update its advice on children's symptoms?

16 replies

musicalfrog · 21/09/2020 06:46

Isn't it time the govt advice reflected the latest scientific advice on the most common symptoms exhibited by children who have covid (ie fatigue and headaches), rather than coughs? It should result in fewer kids and their families having to isolate, and more tests being available for those who do actually need them.

OP posts:
nannynick · 21/09/2020 06:48

Yes I am wondering why they have not updated that following the research by Covid Symptom Study and other studies around the World.

DarkMintChocolate · 21/09/2020 06:52

I’d say the government is more concerned with rationing tests atm, to reflect the fact they are constrained by lab capacity. If they only stipulate a third of the potential symptoms people may actually get, then you only need to do a third of the tests; and infection rates look better!

RoseAndRose · 21/09/2020 06:58

I'd have thought that fatigue and headaches are way more common than a cough, and therefore would lead to a greater demand for testing

FippertyGibbett · 21/09/2020 06:58

Unfortunately they are not only testing people with symptoms. I think that’s where the problem lies.
But then people would lie and say they’ve got symptoms to get a test.

Original poster
musicalfrog · 21/09/2020 07:03

@RoseAndRose

I'd have thought that fatigue and headaches are way more common than a cough, and therefore would lead to a greater demand for testing
Not in our experience, not for children anyway.
OP posts:
Original poster
musicalfrog · 21/09/2020 07:04

@DarkMintChocolate

I’d say the government is more concerned with rationing tests atm, to reflect the fact they are constrained by lab capacity. If they only stipulate a third of the potential symptoms people may actually get, then you only need to do a third of the tests; and infection rates look better!
They are only stipulating a small proportion of symptoms anyway. It would make more sense to stipulate the most commonly seen ones, surely?
OP posts:
Letseatgrandma · 21/09/2020 07:07

@RoseAndRose

I'd have thought that fatigue and headaches are way more common than a cough, and therefore would lead to a greater demand for testing
Yes, as a teacher-I would agree with this.
lifesalongsong · 21/09/2020 07:09

@RoseAndRose

I'd have thought that fatigue and headaches are way more common than a cough, and therefore would lead to a greater demand for testing
I'd be very surprised if that was the case, in what kind of environment do you have experience of where more children have fatigue and headaches than coughs?
Qasd · 21/09/2020 07:09

Fatigue would be far to vague for it to wok as a meangful symptom for people to be able to monitor.

ChessieFL · 21/09/2020 07:10

Most children going back to school after 6 months off will be finding it tiring!

slipperywhensparticus · 21/09/2020 07:10

My kids have fatigue daily since returning to school they don't have covid they are just tired

Original poster
musicalfrog · 21/09/2020 07:16

@slipperywhensparticus

My kids have fatigue daily since returning to school they don't have covid they are just tired
Is it really fatigue though, or are they just tired? It's vague in a similar way that a new continuous cough is compared to other types of coughs, don't you think?
OP posts:
lifesalongsong · 21/09/2020 07:19

@slipperywhensparticus

My kids have fatigue daily since returning to school they don't have covid they are just tired
But tired and fatigue aren't the same thing, at least they aren't to me and if my child was having headaches as often as a back to school cough and cold I'd be quite worried.

But regardless of that research is showing that covid symptoms are different in children to adults so it seems important to acknowledge that and make everyone aware.

slipperywhensparticus · 21/09/2020 11:35

No its fatigue in my eldest son he has all the symptoms of low iron but of course we cant be seen due to covid so just take a multivitamin give him a good diet and he will be fine.....yep thats not working out because he has food issues which is probably why he has low iron in the first place I might see if I can email eye pictures to the doctors to show them the state of him

Original poster
musicalfrog · 21/09/2020 11:41

@slipperywhensparticus

No its fatigue in my eldest son he has all the symptoms of low iron but of course we cant be seen due to covid so just take a multivitamin give him a good diet and he will be fine.....yep thats not working out because he has food issues which is probably why he has low iron in the first place I might see if I can email eye pictures to the doctors to show them the state of him
If it's def low iron then at least you can explain it. If it's otherwise unexplainable then i think definitely a possible contender for covid!

There is a definite difference between tired and fatigue, which could be explained in any official guidance.

OP posts:
slipperywhensparticus · 21/09/2020 11:45

forgot to clarify re covid he has tested negative since the fatigue started

And he is needle and blood phobic just to complicate things the only child I know to faint over a speck of blood this is going to be great fun Sad

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