What’s going on with DD?

[Mrsfrumble]

9 yo DD started sniffling and coughing a bit on 13/12. She had a strong positive on an LFT the next morning, followed by a positive PCR. The snotty nose and mild cough continued for another few days, but otherwise she was fine and full of beans. On 22/12, when the isolation time was reduced we did another LFT which was negative, as was the next day. We’ve been out and about since then, but no prolonged mixing. This morning DH tested positive on an LFT. This evening DD has been coughing lots, is a bit wheezy (she’s mildly asthmatic) and is complaining about feeling hot and cold at the same time. Is it possible to have been reinfected so quickly? Or is it lingering effects of the original infection, despite her having been fine and symptom free for a week? Has anyone else relapsed like this?

@Mrsfrumble yes it's possible she has a different strain of Covid

Do an LFT on her? Or go straight to PCR as she has symptoms.

My DD picked up an ordinary cold after having Covid as she was a bit run down could be that. She has since had another cold and an ear infection.

There are a lot of other non covid cold and flu bugs going round at the moment so she could have picked one of those up. Seems everyone i know at the moment has symptoms!

PCR can pick up the old virus for up to 3 months we were told not to do them in care world by Public health. It won’t tell you if it’s a new strain or a relapse. I would just treat the symptoms and check with GP if she gets worse.

Presumably the PCR would be positive anyway due to being less than 2 weeks since the last infection? She’s had her blue inhaler and has stopped coughing now, but her nose is a bit stuffy. I’ll do an LFT in the morning if she’s still congested or coughing again; we’re trying to ration the few we have left as they’re nearly impossible to get hold round here (London, so omicron-surge-central).

We’re assuming she’s just had omicron, as she had contact with a classmate who was a confirmed case. Maybe she has delta now, but that would be the shittiest luck ever. I should mention that in between DD and DH testing positive, I also had it so the original infection has been round the family. I was hoping we’d be invincible for a bit once DH recovers!

@Mrsfrumble

Presumably the PCR would be positive anyway due to being less than 2 weeks since the last infection? She’s had her blue inhaler and has stopped coughing now, but her nose is a bit stuffy. I’ll do an LFT in the morning if she’s still congested or coughing again; we’re trying to ration the few we have left as they’re nearly impossible to get hold round here (London, so omicron-surge-central).

I had COVID without symptoms, DS brought the worst cold home which was horrendous if we hadn't been swabbed again and come back flu neg I would have been convinced we had flu

The advice is to PCR test if you have new symptoms, but how that actually works re. picking up the old virus I don't know. But that's the advice 🤷‍♀️

Yes, it's possible that she could've had Delta before and Omicron now. Or the ongoing cough could be the result of ongoing inflammation (so she might not be infectious but the Covid has left her airways a bit inflamed which is causing the cough to linger). I'm not sure about the progress of the disease in children, but adults I know can get a bit better then relapse around day 8-10.

DD perked right up as soon as I posted. No more coughing, wheezing or complaining of feeling hot and cold. She ate a big tea and laughed her way through a funny TV program before bed. DH pointed out she’s been coughing lots first thing in the morning since she tested positive (she and DH are early risers; I’ve been taking advantage of the holiday and sleeping in so I hadn’t noticed) and she’s generally a coughy child (night time coughing was how we realised she had asthma) so I’m going with the “lingering symptom from the first infection” theory for now. We’re not planning on any socialising or days out anyway due to DH testing positive.

Does she also have a steroid brown inhaler as well as the blue inhaler. If she’s coughing mainly in the mornings, it’s possible that she may need asthma check up to see if she’s on the right medication.