Hospitalisation Rates in Children

[ClimbDad]

Mumsnet removed a thread discussing hospitalisation and risks to children following the LBC interview with the hospital matron.

The Department of Health publishes hospitalisation figures by age. Daily hospitalisation of children is currently averaging 40 to 50 admissions.

coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/healthcare?areaType=nation&areaName=England

The admissions criteria is designed to exclude children who are in hospital for other reasons and catch Covid-19.

I don’t know what we consider an acceptable level of risk. We haven’t had that conversation as a country, but I feel sorry for the hundreds of families living through this horrific experience every week.

@Tootletum

I don't get it, are you all just desperate to be as worried as possible??

Nothing much to get. Just a little concerned that potentially the level of risk to children is changing. Faux disingenuity isn't endearing.

@Tootletum

I don't get it, are you all just desperate to be as worried as possible??

Literally combing the Internet for things to fuel their fear

.

Literally combing the Internet for things to fuel their fear

Absolutely

Why are the threads being taken down?

This BBC article says that the new mutation and risk to children is being investigated. I would think that the fact that children go to school where mask wearing isn't compulsory for all age groups (as in the Far East), mix after school, I've seen loads of teenagers hanging out in large groups on the buses without masks would make them more vulnerable after September, so the infection rate in children would be higher. This is the article.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55406939

@Hardbackwriter

Does anyone really, actually believe that the death of a 90 year old is as tragic as the death of a 9 year old

Their loved ones may find it equally or even more tragic. You cannot dictate how others should feel about someone's death

When I worked on the wards 10 years ago it was normal to care for 14 patients with a HCA. Same as what happened when I was a HCA 15 years ago.
Sad if children are more affected this time but some of what she said is commonplace in normal
Times.

We are allowed to discuss newsworthy events, aren’t we?

I think HQ suggested it depends on whether the source is a reputable one?

Obviously that excludes much of what appears on Twitter, and it was said the Torygraph article's being disputed

We can’t bury our heads in the sand. Whether or not it’s scaremongering remains to be seen. Mumsnet is getting a bit too censored

The numbers on the govt’s coronavirus dashboard are specifically for those admitted for covid, not those being treated for something else & incidentally found to be positive. coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/healthcare?areaType=nation&areaName=England

@SatishTheCat thank you!

@Panickingpavlova if she is a nurse - and she’s lied (I haven’t seen it) she’ll lose her job. It depends if she’s said they are admitted to treat covid or if they were found to be covid positive during routine screening. The latter is more likely to be correct.

Yes, this! If there’s more infected people in the population, there will be more infected kids, but there is no evidence to suggest that the new strain infects kids preferentially over other age groups or makes them sicker.

Sorry that reply was to @tilder

Interesting that threads are being deleted.

Says a lot more about mumsnet than anything else.

The zapping of threads is making me more anxious rather than less.

If people post crap that isn't substantiated by reliable evidence - which happens quite frequently on MN - then others will challenge them on it and pick their posts apart. That's one of the things that I like about this site - there are lots of knowledgeable people who can contribute their expertise, and it helps me to get a better understanding of things that I might not otherwise have.

If we are not allowed to debate these matters, then it makes me worry that there is some kind of cover-up going on.

@Candiscophonous

That would be very presumptuous of mumsnet to assume that the majority of mental health issues in posters relate to health anxiety about their children? Very niche and specific. Why not assume all posters have eating disorders ? Or that a majority of posters worry about the elderly?

This!

@AlexaShutUp

The zapping of threads is making me more anxious rather than less.

If people post crap that isn't substantiated by reliable evidence - which happens quite frequently on MN - then others will challenge them on it and pick their posts apart. That's one of the things that I like about this site - there are lots of knowledgeable people who can contribute their expertise, and it helps me to get a better understanding of things that I might not otherwise have.

If we are not allowed to debate these matters, then it makes me worry that there is some kind of cover-up going on.

A cover up involving mumsnet towers? Think about that for a minute. Do you honestly think the mods are on the take from the government?

This is just a tricky moderation decision which has wound a lot of people up beyond what’s really reasonable.

Take a breath. Think about what’s actually likely.

@SatishTheCat

Yes, this! If there’s more infected people in the population, there will be more infected kids, but there is no evidence to suggest that the new strain infects kids preferentially over other age groups or makes them sicker.

They simply do not know yet. Which makes the opening of schools the wrong thing to do. Period.

Faux disingenuity isn't endearing

Neither, I'd suggest, is deliberate scaremongering
Just in the last 24 hours at least 2 such threads from PBPs have been deleted ... goodness knows what's in it for these folk

I'm not trying to be goady, but surely within a couple of days we will hear via hospitals, press and government if there has been an increase in sick young people?

That kind of thing can't be hidden, or covered up, nor can the number of young people in hospital be fudged?

I suspect the truth of the matter is that child covid cases are rising in line with the overall increase in covid cases, but that the percentage of children affected is still low relative to other age groups.

What's annoying is for Mumsnet to keep pulling threads. After all, Radio 5 and the Telegraph, while sensationalist, still generally hold off from completely making shit up.

Yes there is evidence here:

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/948529/Weekly_COVID-19_and_Influenza_Surveillance_Graphs_w53.pdf

The new strain has been around for a few months so there is data on it. I will try to link to a specific graph but because the threads keep disappearing I keep having to repost.

I propose a vote of thanks to the HCPs on the thread for their reassuring explanations.such as the one below.

“Yep. Children will be being tested before being admitted for routine, elective, or accident/medical issues. Some will turn out to have Covid but be asymptomatic.

It's unhelpful to think of these numbers as representing children seriously ill from Covid, and risks scaring people unnecessarily.”