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Original poster

Testing tissue snot for covid???

47 replies

jms84 · 25/03/2022 07:24

My 8 year old has potential covid symptoms. The only way I can get a covid swab would be for husband to pin him down and use do it. I don't really want to have to do that, but would like to know if we are potentially spreading covid.

A friend has suggested swabbing snot from a tissue. Thoughts?

OP posts:
AnnaBegins · 25/03/2022 11:29

Snot on a tissue works and is less traumatic all round. Give it a go.

ididntevennotice · 25/03/2022 11:30

I would have thought not because you are supposed to blow your nose to clear it of another before doing the test, but if it's worked for others I may use it as a hack for DD Grin

ReadyToMoveIt · 25/03/2022 11:35

Quick swipe in the wrong place is just a waste of a test

A quick swipe at the entrance to the nostrils for my ASD toddler showed a strong positive, so that wasn’t a waste of a test 🤷🏻‍♀️.

catsandquails · 25/03/2022 11:54

Bless him- he might find it less scary if he can do it himself in front of a mirror. DD9 was absolutely terrified to the point of shaking when we first tried to test her- but she now confidently tests herself. Took her a while to build up the courage to do her first one, but she managed it. It was all about being in control for her. I can see why, I don't think I'd be too keen on someone else shoving a stick up my nose either!

Original poster
jms84 · 25/03/2022 13:35

Well it's not happening. He is far too upset 🤷‍♀️
The kid will pick his nose and shove his finger up there but refuses a little swab 🤣🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
girlmom21 · 25/03/2022 14:01

Is he a deep sleeper?

Do you have plans this weekend where you're closely interacting with people or is it more that you just don't want to risk passing it on?

TakeYourFinalPosition · 25/03/2022 14:04

Aw @jms84. I'm sorry he's finding it so distressing. I guess you just isolate as if he had it; and he can avoid actually testing? That's rough on the rest of you, but it sounds likely he has it from his symptoms.

Can he talk through what he's worried about? Would that help, or is this just a strong fear that logic won't help with?

MacaroniCheeseCat · 25/03/2022 14:08

Sorry you’re both having such a rough time. My 6 year old is super anxious and we effectively had to de-sensitise him after the most traumatic PCR test experience imaginable.

We started with cotton buds getting him to tickle round the outside of his nose and moved to tickling the outside of his nostril. Then gradually putting it in his nostril. Then stroking it round the inside of his nostril. Then basically doing the same with a Covid swab. I won’t lie, it took forever but from a child who wouldn’t let me anywhere near him with a swab, or do one himself, we will now jointly do a Covid test on him.

But you know him best and if it’s not happening, it’s not happening.

Original poster
jms84 · 25/03/2022 14:10

@TakeYourFinalPosition

Aw *@jms84*. I'm sorry he's finding it so distressing. I guess you just isolate as if he had it; and he can avoid actually testing? That's rough on the rest of you, but it sounds likely he has it from his symptoms.

Can he talk through what he's worried about? Would that help, or is this just a strong fear that logic won't help with?

No amount of logic will get through to him. I do feel so sorry for him. Logically he wants to do it, but the absolute fear of it just won't allow it. We have forced him to have them in the past so he knows it doesn't hurt..it lasts seconds. He keeps telling me he will do it himself, but I absolutely know he won't. He won't allow himself to do it.

We can isolate him this weekend, that's fine. But don't imagine school will be so forgiving on Monday. But I'm not sure. Suppose legally now no one has to isolate We all just want to do the right thing.

If school do want him to stay home Monday. That causes problems with my work, who wanted proof of a test when I took my daughter for one. It's all a minefield!

If only they made the saliva tests more accessible!

OP posts:
Muchtoomuchtodo · 25/03/2022 14:14

Ring school this afternoon to find out the situation.

Try the snot! What have you got to lose? Explain that if it’s positive he definitely has it, but if it negative the swab will still be required. Will he be able to understand that you’re doing everything you can to avoid having to do the swab?

Original poster
jms84 · 25/03/2022 14:22

@MacaroniCheeseCat

Sorry you’re both having such a rough time. My 6 year old is super anxious and we effectively had to de-sensitise him after the most traumatic PCR test experience imaginable.

We started with cotton buds getting him to tickle round the outside of his nose and moved to tickling the outside of his nostril. Then gradually putting it in his nostril. Then stroking it round the inside of his nostril. Then basically doing the same with a Covid swab. I won’t lie, it took forever but from a child who wouldn’t let me anywhere near him with a swab, or do one himself, we will now jointly do a Covid test on him.

But you know him best and if it’s not happening, it’s not happening.

You are a genius!!! He is sat in the bath with a cotton swab practicing messing around with it near his nose. Brillaint!!! Didn't give it a second thought with it. Just went ahead and did it.
OP posts:
Original poster
jms84 · 25/03/2022 14:24

Bet after all this he doesn't even have covid 🤣🤣

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MacaroniCheeseCat · 25/03/2022 14:27

@jms84, I’m so pleased! Mine is incredibly stubborn and highly anxious (we suspect possibly not neurotypical) and there is no reasoning with that level of fear. I ended up trying to pin him for a drive thru test and he’s too big for it - we both ended up in tears and traumatised.

I got the idea as some of the nose-only swabs are bigger and less “pokey”, and look just like a cotton bud… good luck, I hope you get what you need.

Cleothecat75 · 25/03/2022 14:29

I completely get how hard it is. Dc3 has ASC and at the start of LFTs dh and I, dc1 and 2 would all do the tests twice a week as requested. Dc3 wasn’t able to and would have an anxiety attack just watching us do them as the thought of putting a stick up their nose was so triggering to them.

we have had many tears, anxiety attacks and upset over tests (including when they have had symptoms, so couldn’t attend school - I lost money as I was self employed and So couldn’t work If she wasn’t in school).
Given time she has got better, but it’s taken months and it’s not always straightforward still.

No advice I’m afraid, no amount of bribery would work for my dc, if they’ve said no, they won’t do it and that’s it.

I don’t know what I would do in your position. As of next week, I thought we had been told we don’t need to test at all (and that’s why you can’t get Free tests Anymore). I’d probably avoid other people, especially the vulnerable, give him a bit of space for a couple of days Over this and try again on Sunday.

It’s not an easy situation at all.

HairyScaryMonster · 25/03/2022 14:32

I've been successfully testing my 4yo in her sleep. Wait an hour or so after falling asleep and test when in deep sleep.

Juggins2 · 25/03/2022 14:37

My DD has ASD and used to completely refuse and be phobic about doing them. We were lucky that she gets ill v rarely so didn't have to do any for about a year of lockdown. When half her class had covid though she knew she had to do the pcr and we let her do it herself. It was still super difficult and took about 2 days to work up, and was a tiny sample but it's got easier over time and now she will do a lat flow if she had symptoms of eg a cold and we're due to see grandparents.

I think this thread just brings it home to me how hard it can be having a neuro atypical child.! For them and their parents! And how nearly all neurotypical families just don't have a clue what it's like - the patronising suggestions put my teeth on edge. Ugh,! Sympathies to you OP

Original poster
jms84 · 25/03/2022 15:03

He did it!!!!!
I mean it's not the kind of test I would trust at all as he barely touched his nose. But he did it. The cotton bud practice really did help.

It's negative after all that. But yeah not a test I would overly trust.

Thank you all for your help. I might try the snot on a tissue if any of us ever get a positive!

OP posts:
TreatTrimTame · 25/03/2022 15:07

We got my (positive) DN to spit in a yogurt pot and swabbed that. Worked daily for the 6 days of her testing positive.

Original poster
jms84 · 25/03/2022 15:25

@TreatTrimTame

We got my (positive) DN to spit in a yogurt pot and swabbed that. Worked daily for the 6 days of her testing positive.
Really!! I know you can get saliva tests but I assumed they were different.
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MacaroniCheeseCat · 25/03/2022 16:35

Well done mini @jms84!

Totally agree with you, @Juggins2 - for some of these children, it’s can’t rather than won’t, ie not a discipline issue or a reflection on anyone’s parenting. I have one who I’m sure is ND and one who I suspect is NT - and I have to say, the younger one is easier in the ways that the older one was difficult at the same age.

zaffa · 27/03/2022 19:12

@jms84 just to let you know that DD (2) is absolutely anti testing but I managed to lightly swab the entrance to her nostril and her runny nose abs it showed an immediate positive so I think you can trust your negative test result as it does work.

Original poster
jms84 · 27/03/2022 19:59

[quote zaffa]@jms84 just to let you know that DD (2) is absolutely anti testing but I managed to lightly swab the entrance to her nostril and her runny nose abs it showed an immediate positive so I think you can trust your negative test result as it does work. [/quote]
That is reassuring thank you.

He is better, still a little cough but I guess it's just a regular cold.

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