DD(10) off school with unexplained fatigue now has a headache. What to do?

[cheeseismydownfall]

Since Sunday, DD has been exhausted for no reason I can account for. It is very out of character. She spent most of yesterday in bed, and even napped a bit which is unheard of. Same again today, and she now also has a slight headache.

No sign of fever, cough, or loss of sense of taste or smell.

I'm aware that there is research pointing to the fact that children often present differently, and in fact fatigue and headache are the most common symptoms: www.theguardian.com/science/2020/sep/07/fatigue-and-fever-most-common-covid-symptoms-in-children-study

No-one else in the family has these or other symptoms. Her two siblings are at school and DH and I are WFH. We are not in a hotspot and have no known direct contact with anyone who has tested positive, although she has recently seen a friend from a different school who has just announced a confirmed case.

What should I do? According to all the official guidance, there is absolutely no reason to suspect covid, test, notify school, self isolate etc. Thoughts?

To be clear, the friend didn't test positive - it was someone else at the school and not within the friend's bubble. Friend still at school.

I’d get a test, because there should be enough tests, and if she has it then you can all isolate for the correct time. I will be criticised for having this, so I’m hiding the thread so don’t bother to @ me, everyone!

Phone your gp or 111 and seek medical advice.

If you think it could be covid and you can get a test easily, get a test.

It is unlikely but it will put your mind at rest that she's just got some sort of bug and will be ok in a few days.

I am unsure because it wasn't that long ago we were told very clearly not to test unless one of the three symptoms is present. Has the availablity/capacity of the testing service improved since then?

If you do try and get a test your other children as well as yourselves will have to self isolate until she gets a test result. It’s really difficult to know what to do.

According to the Zoe app research, for under 18s most common signs of covid in the first 7 day is 55% headache and 53% fatigue

Doh ..didn’t read the op properly...ignore me !

How can you get a test though if you’re not eligible, which your not. Do people lie to book one??

missandra, exactly. I just experimented with booking a test (I didn't complete it) and it was crystal clear that you should not book a test unless it is for one of the three officially recognised symptoms.

Is it possible she could have had a raised temperature at some point (according to the Zoe app the high temp appears early, doesn't last long and is often accompanied by a headache/fatigue which does last longer.

I’d call Nhs 111/gp if I was concerned about my child. Could it be anxiety?

If you're logging her symptoms on Zoe then you might get invited for a test.

comefromaway it is possible, yes - although I don't think it could have been significantly raised or I think I would have noticed. Difficult to be sure!

CKBJ I'm not concerned for her health - she's clearly not herself but here is nothing alarming. I'm pretty confident it isn't anxiety or related to school - she enjoys school and is missing her friends at home. My concern is that her symptoms seem to align with the 'unofficial' list of covid symptoms in children, but the government has not yet acknowledged these with regards to protocol for what to do. So I am unsure how to act for the best.

bluechampagne I've been logging mine but not hers. Is an invite from Zoe an 'approved' invite? The .gov booking system mentions referrals from the local council or from national research programmes but doesn't mention Zoe by name.

@cheeseismydownfall yes it is an official invite.
I felt pretty rotten on Friday a mixture of anxiety and tiredness. I reported my symptoms and haven't been invited.
I'm not sure how testing is at the moment but if it has improved, I think the gov need to be adding to the list of symptoms.

Yes Zoe is approved and comes up on the gov website if you first select ‘essential worker’ It asks if you’ve been sent by the Zoe app

Id leave it. Whilst it would be good if there were enough tests, there aren't so if everyone tests for just anything we will be even more screwed. Hope they're better soon!

This is how my covid started, absolutely exhausted and a headache. My temp was only raised for a couple of hours on day 3 and while I have a sore chest, I don't have a cough or change to taste/ smell. Mine has mostly been a horrendous stomach bug.

I got tested because I'm a teacher and didn't feel well, and couldn't say exactly what was wrong with me, I'm glad I did get tested before I got very sick as I've protected my pupils for 2 extra days this way.

Get her tested.