Our 10 Yr Old Was Just Diagnosed with Covid-19

Posted by fiesty76 @fiesty76, Jul 18, 2020

Thanks to hyper-vigilant parents, we got a fast diagnosis. Our little guy complained of stomach ache before bed. Next morning he had a slight temperature. Call to Boulder pediatrician for testing revealed that it would take 7-8 days to receive results. However, if taken to Denver hospital, the results could be given in 24 hrs.

The dad is a surgeon and the family began self-quarantining, ordering online deliveries of food and supplies early in the outbreak. With the exceptions of allowing closely supervised play dates with 2 separate 10 yr old friends, the family has not congregated with others outside their immediate family.

The 15 yr has gone for 1 hr daily football practices at his new high school...with distancing, laps, exercises and no onsite showers. Both boys attended one week of private tennis lessons and the 10 yr old attended an ice hockey camp with 10 other little guys.

Mom also received test with negative result the following day; however, my grandson tested positive. No information on his "viral load" and we don't know how long he was asymptomatic before the stomach upset. We, including his pediatrician, were thunderstruck! On diagnosis day, both dad and 15 yr old brother were tested and received negative test results the following day. Daughter contacted all whom family had been in contact with over past two weeks the day of diagnosis. The family will return for a ff-up test later next week.

Had this been our 15 yr old complaining of a stomach ache, his temp would probably not have been taken the next morning. At younger bro's age, older bro was "prone" to stomach upsets on days he didn't want to go to school. Stomach upsets are not one of the predominant signs but more is beginning to be published now about it.

This google search revealed that 1/3 of children under age 18 in FL had tested positive for covid-19. https://www.yahoo.com/news/nearly-third-florida-children-taking-171404135.html

The good news is that our 10 yr old has not experienced increasing or different symptoms and may be toward the end of the virus. We simply do not know. My daughter has often sighed and rolled her eyes at times over the years because of hubby's hyper-vigilance and concerns about any family health issues. This is one time we are all so grateful that testing was done as soon as it was.

It pays to know the differences in our children and to also be alert to any changes in health they experience. Sharing this out of concern for others and symptoms that could easily be overlooked. Best to all.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

@fiesty76 - Oh, no! This is awful. It sounds as if your daughter has as much under control as she can.

We found out a month or so ago that my step-son had it near the beginning of Feb/March. My husband's best friend's oldest son has just tested positive. At a time like this, I'm glad that they didn't just visit.

How is the little one? Is he in the hospital?

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My RN daughter is now working telemed for her hospital and has spent 3 days this week on the Covid line. She says this scenario is very typical, had families with as many as 5-9 positive members. Problem is the terms "isolation" and quarantine" are not understood by many, and family members who "don't feel sick" or test negative believe they don't need to stay home - they continue to go out into the community and spread the virus. I hope your grandson continues to recover, and that the quick action by his parents means the rest of the family won't catch it.
Sue

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@merpreb, @sueinmn, and others who read my post. Merry, what is so upsetting to us is that this family practiced all of the best health practices; hubby worked from home and they relied on delivery services vs in-store shopping from the getgo. The quarantine has been hardest for our 10 yr old and it was with long deliberation before reaching a recent decision to allow him to spend supervised time with 2 friends whose parents were also practicing the same precautions. One child has serious asthma and another parent is also a physician. The parents talked and set short play times outdoors.

Of course, we don't know to what degree the children/families at hockey and football practice were restricting activities but tennis was one on one with the instructor and our 15 yr old has been very responsible and not complaining so we thought football would be safe with no contact but just drills like what happened with the hockey group.

Luckily, symptoms have not increased and he is "living" in the full basement with mom sleeping in the basement guest room. The trick will be to prevent family spread and of course, all the family is staying home. I'm sure many, even when told by the health dept. to quarantine for 14 days are not doing so. This lack of respect for others is what drives me up the wall and will extend the virus spread for everyone.

Sue, Thank you. I know how proud of and concerned for your nurse daughter you must be and I hope her shifts are not extended. Three reg. shifts on the Covid line would be stressful enough! The trick will be as you mentioned to prevent family spread even as all of the family is continuing to stay home.

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@fiesty76.. Wishing everyone a speedy recovery.

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@fiesty76 It seems there is a spectrum of presentations of this disease, which makes it all the more confounding. Almost like hazmat suits for everyone, if you please. I agree there is a cavalier attitude amongst many, and a refusal to pay close attention to signs/symptoms.

@merpreb Oh, wow, visiting from either of those people could have been devastating. My husband tested to see if the respiratory illness he had in Feb was COVID-19, but it came back negative.

Very good to hear everyone is even more hyper-vigilant, and rooting for a successful quarantine.
Ginger

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@gingerw

@fiesty76 It seems there is a spectrum of presentations of this disease, which makes it all the more confounding. Almost like hazmat suits for everyone, if you please. I agree there is a cavalier attitude amongst many, and a refusal to pay close attention to signs/symptoms.

@merpreb Oh, wow, visiting from either of those people could have been devastating. My husband tested to see if the respiratory illness he had in Feb was COVID-19, but it came back negative.

Very good to hear everyone is even more hyper-vigilant, and rooting for a successful quarantine.
Ginger

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@gingerw- I know, huh! Thankfully they are across the country. I really believe now that if we don't follow the rules by dotting every I and crossing every T then we are asking for COVID. It's that lethal.

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I am going to say what no one else seems to be saying here. Best practices were NOT followed, at all. The youngsters, if I understand it correctly, went out into the world among other kids, and/or adults, to participate in three different sports activities. That doesn't sound cautious to me. Maybe I'm reading it wrong. If so, please correct me. It seems like there's no reason for surprise here. I wish them all the speediest and most thorough of recoveries, with no relapses or long-term effects!

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@zep

I am going to say what no one else seems to be saying here. Best practices were NOT followed, at all. The youngsters, if I understand it correctly, went out into the world among other kids, and/or adults, to participate in three different sports activities. That doesn't sound cautious to me. Maybe I'm reading it wrong. If so, please correct me. It seems like there's no reason for surprise here. I wish them all the speediest and most thorough of recoveries, with no relapses or long-term effects!

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@zeo. Infection among the 0-17 population is on the rise in my city. I can understand how teenagers can be restless during this time, heck, I am too, and can be rebellious. Parents who have to work either at workplace or at home are having a hard time keeping them at home. I know many parents are telling their kids to stay put, unfortunately kids are mobile, they have skateboards, bikes and can go anywhere. I think there are different guidelines among the states as far as sports activities are concerned. I don't think it's a good idea. In my state, it's not allowed, even public swimming pools and playground equipments are off limit. My grandson hasn't been to a public park in four months!! But it's a sacrifice we are willing to make to keep him and ourselves safe.

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@mayofeb2020, @zep, Hello: This is a horrible time, especially with kids. Being inside with people who are not part of your "original quarantine time group" is really taking a chance on getting COVID-19. This virus has very good odds of infecting you and the closer you are to others, the larger the chances. That's why there are 6' spaces marked off and social distancing. Kids don't really understand any of this. They don't understand what death means or what the virus can do. They don't understand social distancing. They understand that their adults are worried, but not the details.

I agree that there are too many people who treat COVID-19 in too casual a manner. In RI we have very strong leadership. There are very few new cases. But even one new case can be lethal to the rest of the state. And I live in a seaside tourist town.

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@mayofeb2020

@fiesty76.. Wishing everyone a speedy recovery.

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@mayofeb2020 and @gingerw, Thank you, Merry for your good wishes. We are in daily contact and as daughter reports: "so far, so good".

And Ginger, I agree that there is still so much unknown about this disease that only taking serious precautions and staying very alert to any unusual health changes or symptoms will prompt early testing. So thankful that your husband's Feb. test came back negative!

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