Children who refuse to test

[Hayleypop]

Just out of curiosity if a child has symptoms but refuses to take a test what would the outcome of that be, like would school let them stay off for 10 days and would track and trace be informed? My son has told me he will never take a test so I'm a bit worried for the winter especially with all the bugs that will be going round. But I dont think school would be happy with me keeping him off everytime he has a cough!

How old is he? I have an Autistic child and there is no way he will allow this so I won’t be forcing him

Have a word with the teacher. My son won't let me test him, tried it once and he was absolutely traumatised. I mentioned it to the teacher and they discussed options for me. They seemed really aware how traumatising sticking a bud up a child's nose is!

I guess the child isolates for 10 days each time

He would have to isolate for 10 days. Schools won't let them back as obviously if they've got symptoms then they 'could' be positive.

Personally I think that's a lot more traumatic than a quick cotton bud up the nose!

@hotasharibo

He would have to isolate for 10 days. Schools won't let them back as obviously if they've got symptoms then they 'could' be positive.

Personally I think that's a lot more traumatic than a quick cotton bud up the nose!

You didn't see my 6 year old getting swabbed for his PCR test then did you?

It's horrible OP, I don't know how old your child is but after our recent experience I know that, short of anaesthetising him, my DS (6) will not let a swab anywhere near his face again. It was awful.

@ScatteredMama82 absolutely some kids will refuse etc but if they do they'd have to isolate which is what the op asked.

And parents might find it more traumatic if the couldn't work for 10 days

I have a seven year old who has had many PCR tests as she has various health conditions so they've been necessary. Horrible but necessary.

[quote hotasharibo]@ScatteredMama82 absolutely some kids will refuse etc but if they do they'd have to isolate which is what the op asked.

And parents might find it more traumatic if the couldn't work for 10 days

I have a seven year old who has had many PCR tests as she has various health conditions so they've been necessary. Horrible but necessary. [/quote]
Absolutely it's traumatic either way. Not sure how you force them though.

Op, I could have written this myself. Ds is 10 and autistic and tests are hell for him . We have tested him twice last year with great difficulty (cough from cold and both negative) and touch wood he's been fine since then but the winter is daunting. The first test was bad but he didn't know what to expect so we just got on with it (just the nose), the second one he knew what was coming and jeez we were in the test centre for 2 hours trying to get it done - and that was just the nose, not the throat.

If he need a test this year - undoubtedly he will, even if it's not covid - he gets a hacking cough with every bleddy cold he gets during the winter.

I'm really worried too. After the last experience I just don't think he'll do it. I don't even think bribery will work anymore!

My reply isn't much help sorry op. But we can just hope they don't get ill!

I don't think the school can refuse the 10 days off if that's what you choose to do but of course testing would be easier on everyone! But I just don't know what else I'll be able to do!

We took him to drive in test last times so I would consider ordering a home one if we ever need to do it this winter. Only because he may feel more comfortable at home and also it's easier to do it at home then restricted movement in the car I think. Dp literally had to sit over his legs (Dp isn't heavy) and do the nose whilst I stopped him from hitting the swab away but holding his hands from the back seat. It was hell. The test centre staff must of thought we were cruel...

Thanks everyone.. it seems there will be a few children struggling with it this winter then! My son is 10 and he just point blank refuses and I cant physically force him, i don't want to traumatize him. He normally has a cold every few weeks in the winter so I'm totally expecting him to be off school quite a bit then 😔

@hotasharibo

He would have to isolate for 10 days. Schools won't let them back as obviously if they've got symptoms then they 'could' be positive.

Personally I think that's a lot more traumatic than a quick cotton bud up the nose!

You’re not the child in question though, are you? I would also rather test than isolate for 10 days, but we all have our own struggles.

There are no easy answers and my kids are grown up but am sure they would have rather done the test than be stuck at home for 10 days. Sounds crude but most kids have no problem sticking their fingers up their noses so a small cotton bud can’t be that traumatic
My granddaughter who is 3 has had several with little complaint
Surely if explained that it is necessary and that if old enough can do it themselves it may help My daughter pricked her finger several times a day from age 8 to test her blood so kids can do it

We desensitised ds using cotton buds and using chocolate as a reward. We wouldn't attempt a throat swab and he wouldn't open his mouth for it but we can get a good enough nasal swab to not get a void result. He would be very difficult to manage if kept inside for 10 days so we had to try swabbing.

I guess their education will suffer then if they refuse to test.

If you catch a child at the deepest point of their sleep cycle it can be possible to do it without them even knowing so in your situation I'd order a home test straight away and do it like this.

The downside is that home test instead of drive-through already adds one day waiting for the test to turn up and then waiting until that night to do the test adds another day of waiting, so basically you're losing 2 days because they're not willing to have the swab up their nose knowingly.