If your child has a fever and requires treatment - 'Think Covid' and book a test first
A UHDB Paediatric Consultant has urged parents to “Think Covid” by ensuring their children have a PCR test before they come into hospital for treatment for a fever or other relevant symptoms.
The Children’s Emergency Department at Royal Derby Hospital has recently seen a lot of children present with a high temperature, having not yet been swabbed beforehand to see if they had the virus.
Should you or one of your loved ones develop a fever, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your smell or taste, you should look to book and have a PCR test straightaway – and before coming to hospital.
Dr Julia Surridge, Paediatric Emergency Department Consultant, said: “I’m here to please ask you to think about Covid-19 symptoms, in your child or yourself. We’re seeing a huge number of children coming through the department with respiratory and chest symptoms, often associated with a temperature.
“It’s hugely important that you get your child a PCR test, if they have a cough, a fever, or other symptoms. Please Think Covid.”
PCR tests are free to order online via the gov.uk website, where you can either ask for a test kit to be sent to your home, or you can book an appointment at a walk-in or drive-through test site in your local area.
In order to help limit the spread of Covid-19 within our communities, it is vital that anyone that has any of the above symptoms, as well as the rest of their household, isolates at home until the test results come back – usually within 24 hours.
Should you have a non life-threatening medical concern, the NHS also has a number of alternative services available, including NHS 111, where you can get advice from a fully trained adviser over the phone.