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Original poster

15 month old - cold or Covid?

27 replies

Onthegrapevine · 30/05/2021 13:59

I don’t know what to do.

My 15 month old went to his first ever play group on Thursday and since yesterday he’s been sneezing, had a runny nose, an occasional cough & now a fever of 38.4. I’ve given him Calpol.

DH & I have both been fully vaccinated and baby doesn’t attend nursery etc so he just have caught something at the playgroup.

Do we need to get him covid tested? Does a cold normally cause a fever in children this age? I don’t want to take him anywhere for a test where he may be around others with Covid as it’s unlikely that’s what he’s got. Cases are extremely low in o it area (less than 3 per week)

OP posts:
ChristmasCovid · 30/05/2021 14:03

Hi, yes he’s got 2 of the main symptoms - book a pcr test, the results are coming back quickly and you’ll know either way.
Hope he’s ok.

anothernewtop · 30/05/2021 14:04

Do we need to get him covid tested?

Yes

Does a cold normally cause a fever in children this age?

It can do. You can't rule out Covid on that basis though.

I don’t want to take him anywhere for a test where he may be around others with Covid

He won't be around anyone.

colouringcrayons · 30/05/2021 14:05

Statistically it is (very) unlikely to be covid.

However, you are supposed to follow the rules which are isolate the household until tested, as no one can know whether it is a cold or covid without the test. Not at all easy testing youngsters, but there is no separate advice for small children/toddlers/babies?

Original poster
Onthegrapevine · 30/05/2021 14:08

For what it’s worth DH & I did a rapid test this morning and both negative.

OP posts:
anothernewtop · 30/05/2021 14:10

@Onthegrapevine

For what it’s worth DH & I did a rapid test this morning and both negative.

It's worth nothing. Stop looking for excuses.

colouringcrayons · 30/05/2021 14:15

@Onthegrapevine

For what it’s worth DH & I did a rapid test this morning and both negative.
Hmm what do you want people to say?

The rules are totally clear, as frustrating as this all is.

Mindymomo · 30/05/2021 14:17

Yes, it’s best to test and isolate until you get the result.

PotteringAlong · 30/05/2021 14:19

Get him a PCR test and isolate until the results come through! It’s not like this is a new rule!

Littlebelina · 30/05/2021 14:31

To answer your worry about him picking up covid from a testing centre, the drive through centres are really good at keeping you away from everyone else (and them). Not been to a walk through but would have thought the same plus they are largely outside and risk is of catching covid outside is minimal.

With a temp I'd get him tested. If you can the test today you might well have the result by morning leaving you free to get on with your bank holiday. It's almost certainly to be just a cold (loads going round, we've tested dd twice in last couple of months, both negative)

Original poster
Onthegrapevine · 30/05/2021 14:52

We’ve booked at a drive through for tomorrow, nothing available today.

Absolutely no idea how we are going to do this - he barely tolerated us wiping his nose on a good day, never mind swabbing up his nostrils.

OP posts:
cocoloco987 · 30/05/2021 15:11

Either test him or isolate as a family. That's your 2 options. How are people still asking this over a year on 🙈

Original poster
Onthegrapevine · 30/05/2021 15:46

@cocoloco987 Because despite knowing the guidance, it still feels very unreal when it happens to you.

OP posts:
Sunshinegirl82 · 30/05/2021 17:51

I've tested my toddler and 4 year old several times. Neither of them loved it but I just did my best and then bribed them with chocolate buttons! It wasn't so bad, they were always negative and results are fairly quick!

Original poster
Onthegrapevine · 31/05/2021 16:51

My partner & I both now have mild temperatures too, obviously caught whatever baby has. Given we’ve both been vaccinated I’m hoping it’s unlikely to be Covid, but baby was tested this morning anyway so we shall see.

OP posts:
manicwhatday · 31/05/2021 18:28

@Onthegrapevine

My partner & I both now have mild temperatures too, obviously caught whatever baby has. Given we’ve both been vaccinated I’m hoping it’s unlikely to be Covid, but baby was tested this morning anyway so we shall see.
@Onthegrapevine

Hope it comes back negative!

How mild of a temp do you & DP have?
Probably worth testing you both too!

Original poster
Onthegrapevine · 31/05/2021 18:32

@manicwhatday DP 38.4 & mine 37.9.

Yeah, if babies comes back negative then it’s pretty obvious we don’t have it either, but we will still test.

OP posts:
MonsterMash2210 · 31/05/2021 18:37

It’s a real pain, but unfortunately it is just the way it is at the moment.

My son has brought home lots of stuff from school, luckily so far all tests have been negative. However, it’s always stressful and irritating.

Especially when he has made a recovery long before the results come back!

I hope everything comes back negative.

meow1989 · 31/05/2021 18:37

It's pretty unusual for adults to get temps above 38 in y experience, I'd book you both a test too

Original poster
Onthegrapevine · 31/05/2021 18:44

@meow1989 Is it? I wasn’t aware. We are going to get tested but it’s statistically unlikely that both of us would have symptomatic covid after 2 doses of Pfizer.... who knows anymore though.

OP posts:
meow1989 · 31/05/2021 18:59

That's purely anecdotal - the only time in my adult life I have had fevers is when I had sepsis and when I had bad mastitis and I was sick sick sick (not suggesting you guys have this - just that I definitely knew about it!). I think the guidance is above 37.8 to get a test even if vaccinated, better to be safe I think. Fingers crossed for quick negative results for you.

november90 · 31/05/2021 19:03

My little boy who is 12 months old has had a temp over over 40 (on and off) for the past few days. I took Him to our gp, emergency doctors, Covid hub etc etc, saw multiple different doctors all of which said it was viral and he didn't need a Covid test. They said with babies they would only test if admitted into hospital which we didn't need. My friend also visited the Covid hub and saw a dr with her son due to a cough and was told the same advice.
It's not always black and white for babies for the snarky responders on her.
Hope you and your family are all ok OP xx

Original poster
Onthegrapevine · 31/05/2021 19:20

@meow1989 Damn. Yeah, I remember the last time I was really sick with the flu, which was the last fever I had, probably around 4 years ago. I was sat at the pub and suddenly got the cold sweats & couldn’t stop shivering. Spent the next 4 days in bed with fevers of around 37.9-38.5.

Weirdly I don’t feel like I’ve got a fever now. Just a little run down, but I am super stressed so that’s to get expected!

@november90 thank you! Strange how everywhere does it so differently.

OP posts:
anothernewtop · 31/05/2021 19:22

It's not always black and white for babies for the snarky responders on her.

Both your examples involve going to a covid hub and then being told the baby doesn't need a test, so I would say it is as black and white as it gets that a test should be booked. If the hub have a doctor (didn't know this was a thing) who says not to test then so be it, but the advice is the same - book a test.

Forgottenyeti · 31/05/2021 19:28

said it was viral

Confused
november90 · 31/05/2021 19:35

@anothernewtop it's not really though is it because if I'd followed the guidelines I'd have taken him for a test but the doctors told me that babies don't get tested. I actually only got sent to the Covid hub on my third visit. So not it's not black and white...

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