Coronavirus with children in the house

[Irishgene]

My 7 year old DD caught covid from school, her only symptom was a runny nose. Both my OH and I both tested positive within the next week, apart from OH having a very mild cough we don't have the usual 3 symptoms. We both feel like we've got really bad colds and I'm starting to ache a lot now and I feel bloody awful. Has anyone else started off like this and gone on to have a cough/temp/loss of taste and sense of smell? I've also got a 7 month old baby who we assume must have the virus too just purely because we are with him all the time. My GP said unless he shows signs of temperature or diarrhoea/vomiting etc he should be fine. I'm somewhat worried as I have no idea how long we'll feel rubbish for or if we will get worse? I know everyone is different. 😩

@Irishgene I haven't had it myself, but my mum did. At the time I read all sorts about the usual course of it. It's mild for most people. Like the flu. I think you need to watch days 7-10 to see if things get much worse during those days. Day 1 is the first day you had any symptoms.

My mums started like this, just for your reference :

1. Slight cough
2. Temp
3. Temp
4. Slight cough and muscle aches
5. Slight cough and muscle aches
6. Slight cough and muscle aches
7. Worsening of cough and muscle aches
8. Bettering of cough
9. Feeling better

10. Feeling better 11. Feeling better

Now she just had a slight cough but is out of isolation for ages now.

I will add that when she had worsening of cough on day 7 she went to see a doctor and was prescribed cough syrup which helped.

My mum is in her 60s and had previously suffered from pneumonia for just a normal cold.. she got through it fine. No worse than a usual flu she said.

Make sure you take lots of vitamin C, D and Zinc too. Lost of lemon / honey. Lots of hot drinks. I saw a video saying the Chinese just drink hot drinks all day when they have it and that really helps them. That's what I told my mum to do. Just have a hot drink on the go at all times. You'll be OK ! Get well soon.

We had it December, two kids aged 3 & 9 months at the time. 9 month old had very heavy cold like symptoms with minor fever, fine after a couple days. 3 year old was tired & irritable only. OH & I felt naff for a few days but nothing we couldn’t cope with it, just like a bad cold really.. 🤷🏼‍♀️

By some ridiculous stroke of bad luck, I managed to catch actual flu in January - ended up in hospital 🙈 That was much worse 🥴 I know we were lucky with covid, I’m not trying to say flu is worse but rather, as a parent, COVID wasn’t the worse thing I’ve had to parent through recently! It’s tough but you all get through these things!

@MoirasRoses oh my goodness ! That's horrific ! Are you OK now ? Perhaps your immunity was lowered and that's why the flu got your so badly ? We often forget how bad flu can be. It's far more serious for children than covid, from what I've read. Hope you're feeling better!

I’m fine now thank you! Felt pretty awful for about 4 weeks after the flu though, my chest is still not 100%! It really flipping hurts when I run or try to exercise but day to day, all good.

That’s what the docs said, immune system was knocked. I had my flu jab the day before I tested positive for covid (no symptoms on that day obvs!), they also pondered if my body also fighting off covid meant my flu jab wasn’t as effective as it might have been!

Mine started with a headache, then aches on day 3, then each day saw new symptoms (but the old ones went), so, vomiting, aches, heavy cold, cough, loss of smell (than remains) sinus pain. On day 10 today and feeling a lot better.

DS2 (9) had a sore throat and headache for a few days and was under the weather but not ill (he's been worse with tonsillitis etc) and he has asthma, DS1 (12) had one day when he sounded a bit snotty but nothing (he was the only one not tested)

I started with a headache and achy body for the first 3 days, then I developed a mild coguh, on day 6 I lost taste and smell. Until I lost taste and smell, it didn't really feel like anything other than a normal cold.

My DH and I had it at Christmas after catching it from our 10 year old. It was pretty mild for both of us. Mine started with a headache and sore throat and then I felt achy and fatigued for around a week and towards the end got a blocked nose. I was still able to look after my 12 month old and 10 year old though and spent a lot of time on the sofa. After a week I felt fully recovered. No fever, cough or loss of smell. My 12 month old did not show any symptoms despite being in close contact (breastfed).

I hope you feel better soon. I found the anxiety of what might happen was the worst part but know of lots of people that had very mild cases that made a quick recovery.

@Weepingwillow22

My DH and I had it at Christmas after catching it from our 10 year old. It was pretty mild for both of us. Mine started with a headache and sore throat and then I felt achy and fatigued for around a week and towards the end got a blocked nose. I was still able to look after my 12 month old and 10 year old though and spent a lot of time on the sofa. After a week I felt fully recovered. No fever, cough or loss of smell. My 12 month old did not show any symptoms despite being in close contact (breastfed).

I hope you feel better soon. I found the anxiety of what might happen was the worst part but know of lots of people that had very mild cases that made a quick recovery.

I agree, I found the anxiety far worse than the illness. Analysing every symptom, checking oxygen levels repeatedly, reading about long covid and when that might kick in. Luckily, I had a mild case too, managed to look after kids throughout but would have appreciated a day to myself just to lay on the sofa with Netflix!