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Original poster

Everything now a symptom of covid!

33 replies

Moonlitdoor · 17/09/2021 02:37

So I've been notified that there are cases at my child's school. Fortunately not in my child's class or year. The letter I've received says I don't need to do anything but that if my child develops a fever, cough or loss of taste or smell to get them tested. But also consider getting a test if they have a headache, sore throat, feeling tired, have symptoms of a cold or feeling sick. So basically everything is now a symptom of covid? The only symptom not included is diarrhoea or a rash. I'm going to spend the winter having to repeatedly get my kids tests at this rate! My work are going to love me!

My eldest hates school and I know if he realises how many symptoms now get him days off school I'm going to have theatrics each morning as he insists he has a headache, or feels sick. At least I can prove he's lying when he says he has a fever!

OP posts:
Cardboardboxingring · 17/09/2021 02:57

I appreciate it's frustrating but I am double vaccinated and had Covid a couple of weeks ago. I didn't get a cough, fever or loss of smell until a few days after I'd tested positive. I had the headache, runny nose, etc and thought I had a cold but tested anyway. This is how the Delta variant presents. Surely a lateral flow test is sufficient if he has symptoms? It only takes 15 minutes to get the result and here in Scotland at least (don't know about the rest of the UK) you can get packs posted out to you.

Original poster
Moonlitdoor · 17/09/2021 03:06

As I understand it the lateral flow tests are not for use when you have actual symptoms though. If DS goes to school and says he feels sick or has a headache then I'll have to collect him and take time off for a PCR before they'll let him back.

OP posts:
NiceGerbil · 17/09/2021 03:10

It's a flu/ cold etc type virus and they do have a range of symptoms so that's fair enough.

I don't know about the test stuff.

I think your real problem is your son trying to find a way to get off school really though? Why does he dislike it? Do his theatrics sometimes work?

NiceGerbil · 17/09/2021 03:14

Most of the things listed you can check for and dismiss Grin

How old is he? If secondary then generally unusual to feel sick. I'd say if not been sick and not looking like about to hurl then nope.

If you do keep him off. In bed cos ill. No telly no games. Too ill! Food is toast obv. Bucket by bed natch. Make it dull as fuck.

How old is he?

LoveFall · 17/09/2021 03:29

Close family has Covid and is double vaxed. Works in a hospital. Symptoms are like a head cold only but they tested positive.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 17/09/2021 05:59

@Cardboardboxingring

I appreciate it's frustrating but I am double vaccinated and had Covid a couple of weeks ago. I didn't get a cough, fever or loss of smell until a few days after I'd tested positive. I had the headache, runny nose, etc and thought I had a cold but tested anyway. This is how the Delta variant presents. Surely a lateral flow test is sufficient if he has symptoms? It only takes 15 minutes to get the result and here in Scotland at least (don't know about the rest of the UK) you can get packs posted out to you.
Lateral flows aren't reliable. All of mine came back negative when I had Covid.

It is a pain OP. Having had Covid myself recently though it really did present just like a cold, I had stuffy nose, sneezing, etc.

TreaslakeandBack · 17/09/2021 06:01

Diarrhoea and a rash can also be Covid symptoms.
Basically yes if at all unwell you need a pcr.

Yarnandneedles · 17/09/2021 06:05

Covid is now endemic within the population. It’s a corona virus so by nature is going to keep mutating. The vaccine has reduced the symptoms for people in most cases . We need to stop testing/isolating now unless symptoms are severe enough for hospitalisation or people are being admitted for other reasons.
The challenge ahead will be predicting the way it’s going to mutate.

ittakes2 · 17/09/2021 06:07

The nose swab only lateral flow tests can be used to check when someone has symptoms or not

shouldistop · 17/09/2021 06:25

The school are only suggesting a test with those symptoms, not saying you have to get one.

BedknobsNoBroomsticks · 17/09/2021 07:04

@shouldistop

The school are only suggesting a test with those symptoms, not saying you have to get one.
A lot of schools send pupils home or refuse to allow them to school unless tested.

My DN was sent home from school with a sore head and not allowed back until a negative test.

shouldistop · 17/09/2021 07:05

@BedknobsNoBroomsticks that might be the case but from the op it doesn't look like that's what this school is doing.

Northernsoullover · 17/09/2021 07:06

@Yarnandneedles

Covid is now endemic within the population. It’s a corona virus so by nature is going to keep mutating. The vaccine has reduced the symptoms for people in most cases . We need to stop testing/isolating now unless symptoms are severe enough for hospitalisation or people are being admitted for other reasons. The challenge ahead will be predicting the way it’s going to mutate.
If they don't test how will they monitor mutations?
Kakser · 17/09/2021 07:13

We had a similar letter but it did specify you don't need to isolate if you have a PCR for secondary symptoms. It said a LFT was no sufficient. I also thought it described just about every illness my child might have! I understand the reasons but am interested how many people will do it. Every time we test my pre-schooler 4 of us have to go to the test centre (me to do test and my husband to hold her down, plus baby then has to come along, no drive in centre within 30 miles of us so can't just leave child strapped in car seat so it would only need one of us to test her). I'm on maternity but when I'm at work it's going to be very difficult to do that for every runny nose.

Pootle40 · 17/09/2021 07:21

Both my children had cold symptoms the last couple of weeks. No tests. Enough is enough

Hairwizard · 17/09/2021 07:22

As pp said this testing madness needs to stop.
Ive noticed the radio station we use has stopped reporting daily numbers and only yesterday mentioned them and not an exact figure either like usual. About fucking time too.

Booknooks · 17/09/2021 07:25

They're just saying consider getting a test, if they were not allowing children in with any symptom then sure, but for those who perhaps have vulnerable family members or whatever it's giving them info they may want to use. The real problem is that he doesn't like school and will probably try to wriggle out of it, not the school being sensible.

Booknooks · 17/09/2021 07:27

@Hairwizard

As pp said this testing madness needs to stop. Ive noticed the radio station we use has stopped reporting daily numbers and only yesterday mentioned them and not an exact figure either like usual. About fucking time too.
Why is it madness? We have very few 'official' symptoms that require a test, less than most other countries, and now hardly anyone has to isolate. If your child is losing their sense of taste and smell, has a NEW persistent cough and a temp every week then there's probably an issue beyond covid that should be looked at.
Yarnandneedles · 17/09/2021 07:29

@Northernsoullover - don’t think regular PCRs look at genomic sequencing…

lljkk · 17/09/2021 07:51

Unless you think you might be getting (peri)menopause. Then everything is a symptom of peri.

Over-diagnosis? Yeah, just a bit.

Covid is turning into just another strain of common cold.

Kakser · 17/09/2021 08:30

If your child is losing their sense of taste and smell, has a NEW persistent cough and a temp every week then there's probably an issue beyond covid that should be looked at.

Children under 5 get on average 10 colds a year I read, most of which will be in winter. For many children, the nasal drip will cause a cough. I don't know what the answer is, but it does seem if you really follow the rules it's a huge amount of tests (I know a child of doctors who had about 8 last winter as they really followed the guidance to the letter).

FuckingFabulous · 17/09/2021 09:39

@Moonlitdoor

So I've been notified that there are cases at my child's school. Fortunately not in my child's class or year. The letter I've received says I don't need to do anything but that if my child develops a fever, cough or loss of taste or smell to get them tested. But also consider getting a test if they have a headache, sore throat, feeling tired, have symptoms of a cold or feeling sick. So basically everything is now a symptom of covid? The only symptom not included is diarrhoea or a rash. I'm going to spend the winter having to repeatedly get my kids tests at this rate! My work are going to love me!

My eldest hates school and I know if he realises how many symptoms now get him days off school I'm going to have theatrics each morning as he insists he has a headache, or feels sick. At least I can prove he's lying when he says he has a fever!

They should include diarrhoea and rash.... because they were the only symptoms my DC had and I had no idea it was Covid. I thought I'd caught whatever gastric bug they had. No, it was Covid, which I discovered when we consistently tested positive on lateral flow for around nine weeks and we started suffering the effects of long Covid. Never a cough. Never a raging temperature. Just malaise, upset tummy and a viral rash.
ejhhhhh · 17/09/2021 09:51

I completely hear you OP. I think that’s why the government haven’t updated the symptoms that need to be checked with a PCR test, as they know that if they updated the official list of symptoms to what we now have evidence ARE COVID symptoms, it would cause chaos in workplaces and schools. They’re relying on those who feasibly can isolate and wait for the result of PCR tests every time they get a cold or upset stomach, to do so. For everyone else, where that would be impossible as they’d be out of a job, we’re relying on lateral flow tests I’m afraid, if people are even doing that. The school are just advising a parent to get a PCR test if their child has cold symptoms, but it’s not a rule they can enforce. Yes it would be better if all those with any suspected symptoms at all could take take off work to isolate and get a PCR test, or to look after children doing that, but that’s not the world we live in. The official symptoms are still a cough, fever and loss of taste or smell.

ejhhhhh · 17/09/2021 09:56

@BedknobsNoBroomsticks I suspect you could take that further as a complaint with the school, and eventually the local authority/legal action if you really had to. The official list of symptoms is the only list that can be legally enforced.

ejhhhhh · 17/09/2021 10:01

@Moonlitdoor I think in cases like that the lateral flow tests are sufficient. Yes, if your DC had one of the official symptoms you’d do a PCR test, but if they had a headache, and you cannot take time of work if your child has a headache, I’d do a lateral flow test and send them in if negative. There’s nothing within the legislation to allow for any other course of action. If the government was people to take a PCR test in those circumstances, they need to update the symptoms list and their guidance to schools and employers.