Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Feel like I’m becoming hysterical, please ground my mind.

21 replies

Heartlantern2 · 23/12/2020 20:17

I can’t talk to anyone about this in real life. My DH is very mellow and a go with the flow type of person and my family who I don’t really speak too don’t think COVID is that bad and the government are using it for their own benefits so I have no one to talk too.

I’m aware this may sound irrational, I’m looking for some deeper understanding so I can be more realistic.

The new strain from South Africa, it said that it affects younger people more...do they mean 40-60 year olds or do you think it means more along the lines of children?

I’m becoming hysterical about the fact I think we are going to loose a lot of children. When the pandemic started I stupidly read about the Spanish flu, that took the old first...but the second wave started taking the young and since then I have it in my mind that this was going to happen. Then this new vaccine was announced and I really calmed down as the thought of a repeat of history was obviously way off...but now this has been announced a new variant is here, the moment the news reader said younger people I’ve been clinging to the ceiling and I’m really scared!

Do you honestly think it would be ok and it’s not going to be like that? Surly if children really did start dying in large numbers the government would really put their foot down hard and stop it right? I mean, we really wouldn’t be messing around like we are now if it was children would they?

OP posts:
PixellatedPixie · 23/12/2020 20:22

I have two kids and am a highly anxious person but I can honestly tell you not to worry!

I’m from South Africa and have doctor friends who still work there. My parents still live there and also have a few friends whose kids work in hospitals there. Firstly, the new strain has been around for longer than everyone is making out and secondly they know that it is still very similar to the other Covid strains that we have already. The way Covid infects the body means that it will always be more severe for older people and people with diabetes and other complications. It isn’t going to suddenly start harming children. In fact normal flu is more dangerous to kids. The problem is that the external structure of the new strain makes it more infectious but the actual effect on the body is pretty much the same!

The problem is that if more kids and other people get it, more older and vulnerable adults will get it to. None of the doctors I know are worried about the effect on kids - that is thankfully one thing we do know!!!

CovidCarol · 23/12/2020 20:24

It's not going to kill loads of kids, calm down.

FrazzledChip · 23/12/2020 20:25

If it helps at all, today's children are much better nourished and physically well than any previous generation. I'd be surprised if this variant caused anywhere near the deaths caused by the Spanish flu in youngsters.

The vaccines are there and I think if push came to shove the government would have to shut everything down until it could be given to enough people to secure herd immunity.

Big hand hold. I think a lot of us are getting to the point where it all seems unbelievably shit and we're catastrophising more and more. The holidays have just given us more time to worry.

Original poster
Heartlantern2 · 23/12/2020 20:26

Oh thank goodness! Thank you so much for the reassurance, I automatically assumed it would make kids as ill as the elderly, not that the concern was that they would pass it on more easily. Whilst it’s still bad I feel a lot better now, thank you.

OP posts:
Theotherrudolph · 23/12/2020 20:28

If, and I think it’s pretty unlikely at the moment, it started killing children in large numbers I don’t think the government would need to do much, as a parent I’d be making very different decisions about schools etc in those circumstances. Vaccination priorities would also change very quickly.

If you are very anxious about this stuff though you might want to consider seeking help from your GP.

partyatthepalace · 23/12/2020 20:33

You don’t need to worry about that OP.

It’s normal for viruses to get more infectious as they mutate, but they usually get less dangerous too. This virus has consistently hit older people more, that won’t change, but we’re getting better at treating it and vaccines are coming.

Give the news a swerve - the whole world seems pretty hysterical right now - and have a nice Christmas

Noellodee · 23/12/2020 20:34

With our old strain, we had huge amounts of asymptomatic cases in children and they seem to be less contagious.

My hunch (and it is only my personal hunch) is that we will see fewer asymptomatic cases with the South African strain and see children playing more of a role in spread. I still think that we will see mortality concentrated in the higher age groups, though.

PixellatedPixie · 23/12/2020 20:39

@Heartlantern2

Oh thank goodness! Thank you so much for the reassurance, I automatically assumed it would make kids as ill as the elderly, not that the concern was that they would pass it on more easily. Whilst it’s still bad I feel a lot better now, thank you.
Without getting too technical, the reason why kids are okay and older adults aren’t is to do with our T cells which are part of our immune response to viruses. Young kids have more T cells than adults and these help your immune system to “learn about” and fight new infections. As we age so we lose T cells and by the time we are in our 70s we don’t have nearly as many. Older men typically have less than older women which also explains that difference. So even if this virus mutates again it isn’t suddenly going to start being dangerous for kids.
picklemewalnuts · 23/12/2020 20:39

The new variation is just the last in a natural series of mutations. We've only noticed it because our science is so fast and advanced.

One of the reasons it's spread fast in SA may be lots of young people partying because of the season- I think it's called Rage Week?- like spring break in the states.

The risks are still the same- getting CV isn't an issue for the vast majority of people, whatever their age. The problem is when the hospitals can't cope with routine care and CV care at the same time. They can't see as many patients because of necessary social distancing. That's very problematic.

CV itself really isn't.

BooksAreNotEssentialInWales · 23/12/2020 20:44

It’s a coronavirus not a flu virus. Try not to compare and remember this new strain will have been around for a while if lots are infected and kids are still fine.

Fieldofyellowflowers · 23/12/2020 20:52

We've only found out this new strain because two people in England have caught it. If that hadn't happened we would still be blissfully unaware.

If it was badly affecting young people in south Africa, we would have known about it before now.

Fieldofyellowflowers · 23/12/2020 20:54

Plus most kids don't even realise that they've got Covid. A lot of them are asymptomatic. It would have to mutate a lot for the majority of children to even feel a bit under the weather.

Piwlyfbicsly · 23/12/2020 20:58

I’m taking coronavirus very seriously and the “mutation” business does bother me a lot. However at this very moment I don’t see any evidence only rumours about the risk for younger.
But yes, in case if covid hits children, people will no more messing around. I would expect a severe response. People are not scared atm and don’t take anything seriously because of the mantra about “only-elderly-and-with-conditions-getting-sick” plus rules are not enforced. People don’t feel it’s about them.

Beebityboo · 23/12/2020 21:02

I really really needed to read the posts on this thread. I've been in a complete anxiety spiral all night too OP. DH (mine is mellow too, any more laid back and he'd never be upright) has made me a gin and said "if it was killing hundreds of children and younger people the whole world would know by now". I think he's probably right and maybe it's just that more of the young are catching it in the first place because of the end of school festivals?
I'm going to turn off the news until boxing day, I hope you do the same Flowers.

Lemons1571 · 23/12/2020 21:04

Are the government trying to scare us into complying with the tiers? By saying more younger people are getting seriously ill in SA? Or are a younger cohort than the uk actually getting iller?

Jrobhatch29 · 23/12/2020 21:07

@Beebityboo

I really really needed to read the posts on this thread. I've been in a complete anxiety spiral all night too OP. DH (mine is mellow too, any more laid back and he'd never be upright) has made me a gin and said "if it was killing hundreds of children and younger people the whole world would know by now". I think he's probably right and maybe it's just that more of the young are catching it in the first place because of the end of school festivals? I'm going to turn off the news until boxing day, I hope you do the same Flowers.
I think that will end up being the case. Huge amount of infections in the young after the festivals and you always have a small % of the young and healthy who become quite ill. Probably no different to what we have seen here with reports earlier in year of more 30 - 40 year old women in hospital and some uni students which was the result of higher infections in those age groups. Apparently it has been spreading for 2 months in SA so we would definitely know if there was a significant change. I read a quote earlier but cant find it now that said there is no red flags in the data to signal it is anymore severe
user2176 · 23/12/2020 21:27

As much as I don't want it to affect kids, it might make some of the people think more about what they are doing. Stay at home, stop mixing with people until ABSOLUTELY necessary. People with kids seem to be the worst culprits for 'doing their own risk assessment' and then just doing whatever the hell they like because of school, and so they don't think it affects them or their kids, I genuinely think they are keeping this thing going

BooksAreNotEssentialInWales · 23/12/2020 21:35

@user2176

As much as I don't want it to affect kids, it might make some of the people think more about what they are doing. Stay at home, stop mixing with people until ABSOLUTELY necessary. People with kids seem to be the worst culprits for 'doing their own risk assessment' and then just doing whatever the hell they like because of school, and so they don't think it affects them or their kids, I genuinely think they are keeping this thing going
So as much as you don’t want it to affect children, you do want it to affect children. I’m very glad it doesn’t. Children need a childhood to grow into healthy adults.
dappledsunshine · 23/12/2020 21:41

I'm really glad you posted this op and I'm also really glad for the measured and reassuring replies. I'm finding myself in a spiral of anxiety tonight too so I think I need to step away from the news for a bit.

user2176 · 23/12/2020 21:42

Tbf as a 30 year old (well controlled) diabetic, I have spent the last 9 months hearing about how I'm entirely expendable due to being 'at deaths door' so my concern about other people and their children is very limited at this point.... I just want people to stop being fuckwits and take this thing seriously do we can ALL have future.

lljkk · 23/12/2020 21:47

Official sources all agree that there are no new risks to children from any of the variants being widely talked about. You can read any ol' made up worries from randompeople who like to make up worries -- ignore that rubbish.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread