Are you getting your kids Covid tested for a runny nose?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work at a peds urgent care in the area. Last shift I did about 15 covid tests as usual. The two that were positive- one kid with a runny nose and sneezing that I tested because he was in preschool but told parent likely allergies and advised OTC allergy meds, glad I tested him. The second was an elementary aged child who slept in late and was grumpy and had a headache in the morning but otherwise seemed fine, parent worked outside the home but child has been in virtual school and one outside the home extracurricular each week where there were no sick contacts.

So, yes, very mild nothingburger symptoms in kids can absolutely be covid. Don't be dumb, get tested.

DH works in the Children's ED and says they have actually seen an uptick in pediatric COVID cases in the last week.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people understand how almost impossible it is for a child to get Covid and for the adults in their household not to get it? This is how Covid spreads. If you're kid has it, you either have it or just had it. Just get yourself tested. We go to the testing place a couple blocks away whenever we are in doubt. I'm not going to subject my kid to that for every random runny nose or sneeze because even though the test itself is no big deal, getting one is a whole production and it's genuinely hard to do with a small child. I can easily wait 15 minutes and then get tested by someone in full PPE -- my 3 yr old would throw a fit at that entire outing and everyone would be miserable.

We do not need to be testing small children constantly.

My 14 month old had it and nobody else got it...

Yeah, I know several kids who have had it without positive tests from parents. Not common, but not even remotely almost impossible. Also, try a different testing site if yours is hard with kids. Mine (2 and 4) actually look forward to getting tested at our pediatricians. They say it tickles, and they get lollipops. We're and out in 5 mins. It's so not a big deal for them.

Actually incredibly unlikely. The parents probably had it but didn’t test at a time when they the virus was active. The best way is to figure out when the child was exposed and then test multiple times. And it can vary by person. I know a family where they all got tested the day the learned if the exposure, and mom tested positive but dad was negative. Dad tested again three days later and was positive. They are all in the same house. Just random that the virus took longer to infect him.

My philosophy is test everyone for a known exposure regardless of symptoms. But for something mild like a runny nose that could be a symptom or could be something else? DH and I test and we keep an eye on it. DH and I have been tested over a dozen times (all negative). Kid has never been tested. She also is the least likely source of infection though because DH and I have to be indoors with other people much more frequently than she does.

Why are people spreading this nonsense? Even in the same house, COVID transmission is only about 50% on average -- LESS when kids are the first infected. If your kid is going to school/has non-parental infection sources, there is no reason to think that a negative parent test necessarily means a negative kid test, especially if only the kid has symptoms.

Closer to 16 percent

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33315116/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do people understand how almost impossible it is for a child to get Covid and for the adults in their household not to get it? This is how Covid spreads. If you're kid has it, you either have it or just had it. Just get yourself tested. We go to the testing place a couple blocks away whenever we are in doubt. I'm not going to subject my kid to that for every random runny nose or sneeze because even though the test itself is no big deal, getting one is a whole production and it's genuinely hard to do with a small child. I can easily wait 15 minutes and then get tested by someone in full PPE -- my 3 yr old would throw a fit at that entire outing and everyone would be miserable.

We do not need to be testing small children constantly.

My 14 month old had it and nobody else got it...

Yeah, I know several kids who have had it without positive tests from parents. Not common, but not even remotely almost impossible. Also, try a different testing site if yours is hard with kids. Mine (2 and 4) actually look forward to getting tested at our pediatricians. They say it tickles, and they get lollipops. We're and out in 5 mins. It's so not a big deal for them.

Actually incredibly unlikely. The parents probably had it but didn’t test at a time when they the virus was active. The best way is to figure out when the child was exposed and then test multiple times. And it can vary by person. I know a family where they all got tested the day the learned if the exposure, and mom tested positive but dad was negative. Dad tested again three days later and was positive. They are all in the same house. Just random that the virus took longer to infect him.

My philosophy is test everyone for a known exposure regardless of symptoms. But for something mild like a runny nose that could be a symptom or could be something else? DH and I test and we keep an eye on it. DH and I have been tested over a dozen times (all negative). Kid has never been tested. She also is the least likely source of infection though because DH and I have to be indoors with other people much more frequently than she does.

Why are people spreading this nonsense? Even in the same house, COVID transmission is only about 50% on average -- LESS when kids are the first infected. If your kid is going to school/has non-parental infection sources, there is no reason to think that a negative parent test necessarily means a negative kid test, especially if only the kid has symptoms.

Closer to 16 percent

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33315116/

That study is interesting.
Here are the findings:

Results: A total of 54 relevant studies with 77 758 participants reporting household secondary transmission were identified. Estimated household secondary attack rate was 16.6% (95% CI, 14.0%-19.3%), higher than secondary attack rates for SARS-CoV (7.5%; 95% CI, 4.8%-10.7%) and MERS-CoV (4.7%; 95% CI, 0.9%-10.7%). Household secondary attack rates were increased from symptomatic index cases (18.0%; 95% CI, 14.2%-22.1%) than from asymptomatic index cases (0.7%; 95% CI, 0%-4.9%), to adult contacts (28.3%; 95% CI, 20.2%-37.1%) than to child contacts (16.8%; 95% CI, 12.3%-21.7%), to spouses (37.8%; 95% CI, 25.8%-50.5%) than to other family contacts (17.8%; 95% CI, 11.7%-24.8%), and in households with 1 contact (41.5%; 95% CI, 31.7%-51.7%) than in households with 3 or more contacts (22.8%; 95% CI, 13.6%-33.5%).

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. It’s most likely allergies. We got Covid tests twice before for 2-year old when she was running a slight fever but I’m not doing it for just the runny nose she has right now.

How bizarre. You know most children are completely asymptomatic, right? Mine were.

So if a kid is prone to seasonal allergies, what are you doing exactly, getting them tested every few days for several weeks? Truly curious what is best practices during allergy season since it’s fairly long around here.

OP did not say her children had runny noses for several weeks, she said they woke up with runny noses and congestion. She also didn't say anything about a history of allergies.

My child has a permanent runny nose every spring AND has already had Covid (thanks daycare teachers!) so we know it's allergies and aren't getting her tested. But that's NOT OP's kids, so she should get them tested and if the test is negative, then it's probably allergies.

But the truth is you DON'T know its allergies, because the symptoms overlap so much. Yes during allergy season for someone with a history of allergies, runny nose/sneezing is probably allergies. But until you test, you don't know for sure. And it doesn't mean they can't pick up Covid while having allergy symptoms. My epidemiologist friend says to test regularly to be safe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I work at a peds urgent care in the area. Last shift I did about 15 covid tests as usual. The two that were positive- one kid with a runny nose and sneezing that I tested because he was in preschool but told parent likely allergies and advised OTC allergy meds, glad I tested him. The second was an elementary aged child who slept in late and was grumpy and had a headache in the morning but otherwise seemed fine, parent worked outside the home but child has been in virtual school and one outside the home extracurricular each week where there were no sick contacts.

So, yes, very mild nothingburger symptoms in kids can absolutely be covid. Don't be dumb, get tested.

DH works in the Children's ED and says they have actually seen an uptick in pediatric COVID cases in the last week.

Schools!!!

[Anonymous]

My kids are attending school, so yes I get them tested for a runny nose. We actually went this weekend - even though I thought it was allergies - because it's my responsibility to the community. It look 30 minutes, in and out, and they were both negative and I was relieved. It wasn't a big deal.

If you send your kid to school with symptoms, and don't have them tested beforehand, you are terrible.

[Anonymous]

My kid is in daycare, so yes if it lasts at least 48 hours (which is how long my ped requires symptoms to persist before testing). I actually took her for a test last Friday after she'd been sick (and home of course) most of the last week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid is in daycare, so yes if it lasts at least 48 hours (which is how long my ped requires symptoms to persist before testing). I actually took her for a test last Friday after she'd been sick (and home of course) most of the last week.

Same poster again -- I don't care how unlikely transmission is; the test is for my and the daycare's peace of mind.

[Anonymous]

I work at a peds urgent care in the area. Last shift I did about 15 covid tests as usual. The two that were positive- one kid with a runny nose and sneezing that I tested because he was in preschool but told parent likely allergies and advised OTC allergy meds, glad I tested him. The second was an elementary aged child who slept in late and was grumpy and had a headache in the morning but otherwise seemed fine, parent worked outside the home but child has been in virtual school and one outside the home extracurricular each week where there were no sick contacts.

So, yes, very mild nothingburger symptoms in kids can absolutely be covid. Don't be dumb, get tested.


DH works in the Children's ED and says they have actually seen an uptick in pediatric COVID cases in the last week.


Schools!!!

Not just schools. Also parents who are vaccinated and taking more risks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids are attending school, so yes I get them tested for a runny nose. We actually went this weekend - even though I thought it was allergies - because it's my responsibility to the community. It look 30 minutes, in and out, and they were both negative and I was relieved. It wasn't a big deal.

If you send your kid to school with symptoms, and don't have them tested beforehand, you are terrible.

How long did it take to get results?

My DS has been sneezing more frequently, but no runny nose, so I automatically assumed allergies as the pollen is out. But now I am not so sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are attending school, so yes I get them tested for a runny nose. We actually went this weekend - even though I thought it was allergies - because it's my responsibility to the community. It look 30 minutes, in and out, and they were both negative and I was relieved. It wasn't a big deal.

If you send your kid to school with symptoms, and don't have them tested beforehand, you are terrible.

How long did it take to get results?

My DS has been sneezing more frequently, but no runny nose, so I automatically assumed allergies as the pollen is out. But now I am not so sure.

15 minutes. It was a rapid test at the pediatrician's office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids are attending school, so yes I get them tested for a runny nose. We actually went this weekend - even though I thought it was allergies - because it's my responsibility to the community. It look 30 minutes, in and out, and they were both negative and I was relieved. It wasn't a big deal.

If you send your kid to school with symptoms, and don't have them tested beforehand, you are terrible.

How long did it take to get results?

My DS has been sneezing more frequently, but no runny nose, so I automatically assumed allergies as the pollen is out. But now I am not so sure.

Sneezing were the only symptoms my 3 and 5 year old had when we all had covid. They just sneezed a lot. I however was sick as a dog.

[Anonymous]

I would assume any sign of illness is covid unless proven otherwise. The exception is if your family is not in contact with others. My daycare will not even allow children with a runny nose to stay in care unless they have a negative covid test and documentation of allergies from the ped (unless there is a reason ie being outside in the cold and it resolves when coming indoors). It’s frustrating, but that is the risk you take when you choose group care in a pandemic.

[Anonymous]

No, I can’t be bothered.

We’re also going to Florida for spring break and not getting tested or quarantining when we come back to DC.

Like I said, can’t be bothered.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
if you know your child has allergies, it’s allergy season, and their symptoms are exactly the same as previous years - ok. But if your kid suddenly wakes up with a runny nose and congestion- you need to suspect covid.

+1,000. If you and your husband telework, and your kids are home and none of you are engaging anyone outside of your household, fine don't get tested. Otherwise please for the sake of public health test. You shouldn't test for another five days so in the meantime if your family is out and about waiting to see if they had covid and gave it to you you're potentially spreading to others.

I work in Covid contact tracing and have lost count of the number of people who said "I figured it was just allergies" and tested positive.

+1000