How can this be?

[Needanewadventure2021]

To cut a long story short my 7 year old has tested positive for Covid. I didnt even suspect it other than I really terrible cough that developed last night and a change in his voice. I ended up testing him 3 times as I thought the tests were false. I have tested negative. He developed a temp of 39.6 last night and became disorientated. Luckily paracetamol brought it down and he slept all night though I noticed his temperature go from too high to feeling freezing cold. Today he seems absolutely fine other than the deep cough, pitchy voice and a temperature. He said he aches abit but his just normal in himself. I tested us both again this morning to see if we had dodgy tests last night and they gave the same results. We went for our PCR test earlier today. I now feel horrendous. So much so ive taken another LFT to see if anything has changed. It hasn't. I'm still negative.

How can my positive child be feeling pretty fine and me being negative feel like im full of flu?
I swear it's getting worse too. I feel so sick and like my head is going to explode. My whole body aches

Sounds pretty typical. Kids are not very ill with covid usually & always bounce back from any illness far quicker than adults. The amount of times my DD’s have passed on awful germs & ive been the one left feeling grim for days while they recover in 24/48 hours!

LF tests are not very accurate. I imagine your PCR will be positive if you feel like you do & your kid is positive.

I did an LTF on Thursday and Friday, Thursday negative, Friday positive. I did another tonight, very positive. Did a PCR on Saturday but no result back yet. I have symptoms so I can't go into work. I think you have just got to keep going with the testing.

LFTs only pick up a small proportion of positive cases so it could be a false negative. The PCR should give a clearer answer

The PCR should give a clearer answer

A few weeks ago I would have agreed. However, there seems to be something going on with PCR tests at the minute. So many are coming back negative, despite people having multiple positive LFT. So the PCR test could add to the OPs confusion.

OP if your son has tested postive and you have similar symptoms, then I suspect you also have covid. I hope you're feeling better soon. 💐

You might not have enough viral load for a positive result at the moment. A bit like HCG in pregnancy, the viral load tends to ‘grow’ progressively especially if you were exposed or caught it after your son did.

My whole family back in Spain has Covid right now. Member 1 tested positive on a Thursday after a few days of symptoms.
Member 2 got same symptoms on Friday and the doctors and tracing people said not to test until Monday, because it might be negative at first, and as Member 2 is vaccinated, they’d be allowed to go for work and shopping.
Member 3 got symptoms on Saturday, they tested early Wednesday.

It takes a couple of days from exposure and your body recognising the virus and starting to show symptoms, for the test to come back positive.

Thank you. Hopefully we have our results back soon and I will know. However the way my body feels I'd be amazed if I'm not positive with him.

I too have heard strange goings on with the lateral flow tests and PCRs giving different results despite symptoms.

I'm double vaccinated but will have to isolate anyway because of my child.

I will be truly baffled if his PCR comes back negative after so many positives. They were immediate lines too as in you could see the line developing almost immediately. I can tell his poorly but his always been a child who just gets on with it. Even when he broke his ankle he carried on walking on it until an xray confirmed it was broken

Thanks for that information. It may be too early for me then. Does this mean I will need another PCR in a few days time?

I’d be tempted to keep using LFTs and if positive continuously, book another PCR. Bur I don’t think there’s a clear rule about it.

@Whinge

The PCR should give a clearer answer

A few weeks ago I would have agreed. However, there seems to be something going on with PCR tests at the minute. So many are coming back negative, despite people having multiple positive LFT. So the PCR test could add to the OPs confusion.

OP if your son has tested postive and you have similar symptoms, then I suspect you also have covid. I hope you're feeling better soon. 💐

I agree with this. It was the same for us last month - positive LFT and negative PCR. We had all the classic symptoms even down to the loss of taste, so we isolated for the 10 days to be sure. It has happened to several other people that I know of too.

Yes I think there are wierd stuff going on with the tests at the moment. The 4 of us in this house have all had symptoms one after the other. DH and I have tested positive on PCR but only DH was positive on a lateral. The kids have tested negative on both PCR and LFT. I was so convinced that DS2 had COVID based on his symptoms and our positives that I tested him twice on PCR - first time was the day he developed his symptoms, and then again 2 days later when he'd been coughing for 2 days. It came back negative. He's not had any vaccines.

He's due to return to school tomorrow after 2 weeks off after an operation. I'm scared that he's going to go to school and infect someone unwittingly, even though we've followed all the advice aboutg testing.

I'm hoping the PCR will be clear and correct as its that that will determine if I get paid by work for isolating. Which I really cannot afford to not be paid

LFT are not great.
I was negative Wednesday. Positive Thursday morning. Negative Thursday afternoon. Negative yesterday. But I have now had a positive PCR.
I’m starting to feel they are basically not worth the plastic they are made from.

@Spookypenguin I'm starting to feel like that about the PCRs!

Oh wow this is really worrying. What a useless thing they are

LET'S are not supposed to be used when you have symptoms because they can give a false negative.

No, LFTs are actually more accurate when there are symptoms.
But ultimately they are not that accurate at any time.

I just find it mad how two people in the same household can have different symptoms and results. And the negative one feels full of flu and the positive fine. I started feeling bad around 4ish today

LFTs shouldn't be used if you have symptoms. They are for symptomless people. PCR if you have any symptoms.

LFT can pick up asymptomatic infection but they are no less reliable if you have symptoms.
In fact supposedly they are most reliable at the onset of symptoms.
But basically they are rubbish overall.

What are the current guidelines? Is it 10 or 14 days isolation with children? Also, in the event both PETS are negative do we return to normal despite being poorly and my son have LFT positives?

It's 10 days isolation if you have covid
If you are still unwell even if PCR is negative then you should still stay in until you do feel better

This explains it

Thank you

Honestly, just wanted to moan somewhere and this fits. I hope that's OK, and sorry!

I've been feeling like rubbish since last Thursday but not typical Covid symptoms. Runny nose, my eyes hurt, no energy, was sick on the first day.

Middle daughter had a bit of a runny nose, we did her LFT for school tonight and instant positive! Did a second one and pretty much the same. I also did one, which was negative.

Ordered PCRs for us both. I'm hoping it's the fact I'm double vaccinated that although I've felt much rougher, my viral load is low due to the vaccine hence it not being picked up on the LFT - as I felt too poorly to go out much since Thursday but did need to go out today for some shopping.

I feel like the symptoms are way out of date, it's mutated - hopefully for the better, could mean it's less lethal to vulnerable people, hoping the PCR explains why I've felt so rubbish (obviously self isolating until I have it now, lucky to be able to WFH).

Hmm maybe it’s not COVID there are other viruses before COVID came along! Stop with the multiple tests and just deal with the symptoms as you would pre COVID!