Asymptomatic cases - age?

[UntamedWisteria]

I know the majority of Covid-positive cases are asymptomatic.

But are you more likely to be asymptomatic if you are in a younger age group than, say, over 50?

Anyone seen the data on this?

I would imagine so but I don’t have any data. Of the 9 people that I know that tested positive, a couple had a runny nose/cold symptoms and the rest no symptoms. Two aged 84 and 90 had no symptoms. They were tested as they were in a nursing home with positive cases. Their test was positive but they didn’t develop systems. There is a lot of talk about possible T cell immunity but I don’t know.

My friends dad in his 60s was asymptomatic and had a positive test.

Interesting.

So it is very possible to be positive and asymptomatic if you are quite old.

Looks like I was right to tell self-isolating friend she should not come round for dinner...

I’ve tested positive. Dh and adult dc have symptoms now. 10yo dd has no symptoms at all but I’d be very surprised if she didn’t have it because I seem to have passed it on to the rest of the family Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Genuinely wondering
if a person is asymptomatic they don’t have symptoms
So how would they get a test ?
How would anyone know if they have it or not

Antibody testing. Mass testing in workplaces, universities etc.

The asymptomatic children in my class were only tested because their older siblings had classic symptoms. They did in fact have symptoms (more typical.in younger children), just not the 3 you can get tested for. Similarly, my sister and one of her children had symptoms. She presented classicly. She is a teacher like me . One of her children had symptoms that were not classic but rapidly worsened so he ended up in ICU. He has been left with a heart murmur at 8. Her other 3 children and husband were also tested and found positive despute no symptoms apart from a runny nose in one.

We need school testing.

@Heatherjayne1972

Genuinely wondering if a person is asymptomatic they don’t have symptoms So how would they get a test ? How would anyone know if they have it or not

@Heatherjayne1972 our employer is routinely testing staff wether they have symptoms or not. I tested positive and the only symptom I had was feeling tired. Out of 1500 staff there are been a significant number of asymptomatic case

There is also a government research programme that does random testing to see what the prevalence is in the general population and has shown that a very high proportion of people who test positive had no symptoms at the time they were tested.

I am 58 and was asymptomatic. I am NHS frontline and got an antibody test.

I had symptoms of a mild cold for around 12 hours, booked test, results positive but since then I have been fine; would usually be out shopping, at work if i hadn't had test

Sorry forgot age -36

Yes, as a PP mentioned plenty of asymptomatic cases have been found in care home residents. It doesn't mean that they won't get seriously ill though - I think the immune response that triggers serious illness comes after the symptoms and is unrelated? I could be wrong on that though.

The ones I know that got tested with no symptoms were medics and nursing home residents. Routine testing.

My family work across Social care. You can be very elderly and/or very vulnerable and still be asymptomatic. They've found this out by routine testing. So you were right that they still shouldn't break isolation.

They have found that young men 14-26 year olds are more likely to not know they have it, but that could also be a brushing off of any symptoms. That's been shown on cross cultural research.

My 57 year old colleague was asymptomatic. Only got a test because others in department had mild symptoms.

Most Uni kids are asymptomatic.

Unless you test the whole population regularly you will never find all cases.

But given the high asymptomatic rate, the actual death rate is probably lower than estimated. Many more people have COVID than is recorded.

My friend’s mum is 86 and asymptomatic.

I've seen stories about frail old people in care homes who are totally asymptomatic. Only found because of routine testing. Probably less likely at that age but still possible.

Only symptom I had was lack of taste and smell. Dp had slight fever plus taste and smell, both middle aged and overweight! I've had far worse colds and wouldn't have taken time off if it weren't for the publicity because I wasn't ill