Omicron two months after Delta?

[Maremaremare]

My son is sick with a fever. He had covid two months ago (he's young, so not vaccinated). Has anyone heard whether it's possible to get re-infected so quickly?

Also, should I take him for a PCR? If it comes back positive, how would I know that it's not the previous bout of Covid that's still showing up? I read that only a small proportion of PCR tests are actually being sent to labs that can do the sequencing to identify Omicron... So hard to know what to do...

The PCR wouldn't show the previous bout as it is looking for antigens on an actual virus rather than antibodies. And he will have killed off all of the virus within 2 months. So if it's positive he has been reinfected (although the chances of this are very slim)

@Bloomsburyreader

The PCR wouldn't show the previous bout as it is looking for antigens on an actual virus rather than antibodies. And he will have killed off all of the virus within 2 months. So if it's positive he has been reinfected (although the chances of this are very slim)

I read that "Test and trace advises against taking a PCR test [...] within 90 days of a Covid diagnosis, because residual inactive viral fragments may give a positive result for up to three months after the infection risk has disappeared."

Maybe I'm overthinking though...

I read not to do LFT or PCR unless there were new symptoms. I understand your nervousness though. I'm 26 days past a positive test and would worry about having one in the next couple of months.

I’m literally a few days over 3 months and had a positive LFT today, just awaiting PCR results. I guess it’s probably true when they say omicron can reinfect with ease…

Its possible reinfection. Children are far more likely of reinfection even before omi varient due to not holding onto antibodies from infection. Plus reinfection with omi is far morw likely

Sorry the PPs info on PCR is wrong, a PCR test can still test positive up to 90 days post infection because it measures things (virus fragments) that hang around in the body for much longer. That's why you're not supposed to retest with PCR until 90 days post infection.

A LFT on the other hand only picks up active infection, so if he's positive on that it indicates it's a new infection.

And yes I know a couple of people who had confirmed Covid in October and have now caught Omicron (positive LFT and part of a confirmed outbreak in office).

I'm not a medic but I have worked with PCR as part of postgrad level studies.

Just found this, although can't see other articles backing up what it is saying:

https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/covid-testing-pcr-guidance-change-omicron-variant-delta-1329036/amp