-PCR now outbreak at nursery

[wjg65ka]

Hi,

DS (20 months) was taken ill last week (Friday) in nursery with a temp of 39, chesty cough and generally not well in himself.

I took him for a PCR on Saturday morning, tested myself too as I started getting a scratchy throat Saturday morning.

All negative PCRs.

Over this week, symptoms have got worse. DS has started to come through it, just hasnt shaken the cough yet. My symptoms are: sore throat, chesty cough, breathlessness, no taste or smell, runny nose, stomach issues and temperatures. DS had the same symptoms.

DH started coughing heavily today. Booked PCRs again for tomorrow.

I've been doing LFTs regularly out of curiosity, all negative.

Had a call at 7pm from nursery to say they've had 6 cases of covid reported to them today and they've had to shut for 10 days. DS was last in a week ago. I had sent them his negative PCR as soon as we got it last week, but now I'm panicking that we do have covid. Do you think it's likely?

I don't know what I'm asking really, am I doing the right thing? Do you think we have covid? DH is getting fed up and says we don't, I'm heavily pregnant with health anxieties and as I got a negative PCR I've seen my mum and sister yesterday and I'm anxious I've passed it on to them.

It could still be something else OP, lots of other bugs around at nurseries. BUT the high number cases in nursery plus your loss of taste/smell makes the chances higher. PCR tests aren't perfect, so doing another seems sensible to me. The lateral flow tests are really inaccurate so I would carry on with your plan to be tested again.

Ordinary bug or Covid, chances are you'll all be over it and well again in a few days.

Honestly if you are both ill I'd avoid seeing people anyway. No-one wants any kind of respiratory infection at the moment, as they'd have to test and isolate until negative result even if it isn't covid.

We actually had a similar experience last week. My daughter had a fever and we all felt I'll and had sore throats. All tested, all negative. DH says several people at work had similar and were negative, and friends have said their families have had the same. The nursery attached to the playgroup we go to has just announced they have reopened after covid cases. I can only assume there are two similar viruses doing the rounds.

Long before Covid I had many of these symptoms with colds/ heavy cold / flu / tonsillitis etc etc
Contrary to popular believe they are all still doing the rounds
If you are ill then stay in as you usually would
I'm sure you extended family will be fine too .

*typos

Quite a surprisingly high percentage of Covid-positive people return a negative PCR test result. I'd assume that you do have it and take suitable precautions.
Hope you all feel better soon.

It could be covid, but it come be some other virus - they do still exist. In any case if you're ill then presumably you're not going out and about so just continue isolating until you all feel better.

There isn't much point in being anxious about it being covid. The chances of you getting seriously ill are absolutely tiny and, in any case, you already have it now so nothing you can do about it.

@careerchangeperhaps

Quite a surprisingly high percentage of Covid-positive people return a negative PCR test result. I'd assume that you do have it and take suitable precautions. Hope you all feel better soon.

This, especially as there have been so many covid cases now at nursery and ds had been there when he began to feel unwell. False negatives are common sadly.

My friends little boy who attends nursery was unwell with a cough and a temp last week. He had a negative test but then she got a positive test a few days later so seems likely he did have it

All your other symptoms could easily just be a bad cold but a complete loss of smell & taste is really rare. I’ve had my fair share of awful colds in last couple years with young kids but while I’ve lost my sense of smell from congestion it’s never been completely & ive never fully lost my taste at any point. Again, dulled or off but with covid it’s literally nothing at all. You can’t taste or smell a single thing.. it’s bizarre!

We were all really poorly around the time of an outbreak at our nursery in Jan. We all did repeated PCRs & they were always negative, the whole household 🤷🏼‍♀️ & while there maybe the odd false negative, no way 4 people doing 3 tests each over the space of 10 days were all wrong!

Lots of children and staff off at our nursery with heavy colds and negative PCRs.

Going for our PCRs at 9:30. DH couldn't go an hour in between heavy coughing fits through the night.

DS is definetly on the mend, thankfully. If this isn't covid, whatever it is... it's nasty!

Ds had a nasty bug a couple of weeks ago. Cough, fever, snotty nose, tired.

Negative PCR, but he saw a doctor because his asthma wasn’t great with it.

Dr said tonnes of other bugs racing through nurseries and schools at the mo, with other respiratory bugs and Noro particularly prevalent.

You might be fine- but tbh id probably stay away from others regardless. You just don’t want to pass anything on atm really.

Your child may have a chest infection? Not everything is covid

@Christmasfairy2020 I know. We've all developed quite bad symptoms. He's not long recovered from a chest infection, GP gave him antibiotics after he got a negative PCR.

We have symptoms of covid, Im just worried that we had false negatives and we actually do have covid. I'd rather know before going out of the house etc and before DH returns to work.

I know there are other sicknesses besides covid, but it's making me so anxious especially as im in an area that's been hit really hard with the delta variant.

If it is covid, no need to panic. It’s no different to other illness for most people. Just a pain the backside you can’t have any support with kids or actually leave the house for some fresh air (obviously the garden is fine). At worst, it’ll be like flu and best, a mild cold. Just rest, plenty fluids, keep the veggies & fruit up but just eat what you fancy. Whatever works when you feel rotten.

There is no point sitting thinking the worst, it’s a waste of time. Just take each day as it comes & deal with it. If you were unlucky, cross that bridge when you get too it.

Did you get your results op ?

All negative, nasty cold it seems. I've picked up so many bugs this pregnancy, I'm so over being sick. I seem to be coming out of the other side now, just very sinus achey now. DH is still coughing.

So glad we're negative!