Corona Virus

OP, what are URI and DMARD?

I wish people would test. My daughter was very ill recently, in bed for 6 days, unheard of. She thinks it was a flu type virus then she got a secondary chest infection. I dropped tests off on day 3. I’m immuno suppressed and very concerned about the risk of covid

I had flu recently, was horrible, did test for covid but was negative, was worried about my OH getting it because he has underlying health probs. Was also worried about him getting the flu so glad we have separate bedrooms.
We still test if feeling a bit ropy when visiting a vulnerable friend who shielded during the pandemic.

Easily Googled Delila

URI - Upper Respiratory Infection.
DMARD refers to anti-rheumatic drugs.

Covid affects organs whether or not there are noticeable symptoms.
Every reinfection increases likelihood of internal scarring and damage, leading to an increased likelihood of ill health in the future (eg heart attacks, lung infections etc )
Epidemiologists are very concerned about ill health in later life for often infected school children
It is possible that these more frequent occurrences of ill health are already happening, and investigations of long covid in the US are revealing similarities to other incurable long term chronic illnesses such as M.E.
Sadly our government decided to call mitigations restrictions, and failed to install relatively cheap HEPTA filters in schools and other public spaces. The current government is not enforcing mask wearing in hospitals, and has stopped testing, so that the only counted cases are those so bad that they are in hospital.
Mitigating actions would also protect from influenza and pneumonia
This from the Office of National Statistics
In the week ending 7 March 2025, 15.4% of registered deaths involved influenza or pneumonia (1,853 deaths), while 0.7% involved coronavirus (COVID-19) (83 deaths).
In the same week, influenza or pneumonia were the underlying cause of 5.2% of deaths (622 deaths), while COVID-19 was the underlying cause of 0.5% of deaths (60 deaths).

I caught it just before Christmas so spent Christmas alone instead of with my family as I was too poorly to face the 200 mile journey to stay with them as planned. They were ill the week before me, so may have already had it but they hadn't tested so I didn't want to risk giving it to them. It was the 5th time I've had it and each time has been different. I only tested as I was planning to travel and felt a bit off, but a couple of days later I felt pretty awful so I was glad I stayed at home. I had to put on a good mask and go shopping for food after testing as I'd used everything up in preparation for going away!
One of the previous times I was barely ill at all but we were all testing regularly then so I knew I had it. Now that people aren't testing regularly I guess people won't even be aware they have it if they get it very mildly.

Bamm

I have had seven vaccinations, two each year and have now been invited for one this spring. I am thinking to forgo this one and have it each year in autumn. I have had Covid twice, not very severely and tested if ever I feel that kind of illness starting. I am 78 with no underlying conditions and no medications. I just hope it's the correct decision.

You probably had Covid not very severely because you had been vaccinated.

Earthmother9
Don’t be ridiculous.

Babs03

I had flu recently, was horrible, did test for covid but was negative, was worried about my OH getting it because he has underlying health probs. Was also worried about him getting the flu so glad we have separate bedrooms.
We still test if feeling a bit ropy when visiting a vulnerable friend who shielded during the pandemic.

When I had COVID the test was negative. Had one done at hospital and it was positive. Not sure I have great confidence in them.

I’ve booked my booster for next Wednesday. I don’t particularly like having them, but having lost my DH to Covid early in 2021, I feel I owe it to my family to do everything possible to avoid catching the infection! They’ve all had it several times and at times have been very ill with it.

To Eartmother, my stepdaughter is a consultant aneathsatist at a hospital in East London. At the beginning of the pandemic she was ringing her father in tears saying" they keep dying, we can't help them," thankfully as the pandemic went on they discovered better ways of helping their patients. It was an absolutely hellish time for the NHS staff, and certainly not "a con."

Heathen414

So, corona is with us forever. It's endemic now meaning always here. The only good thing is despite the changes each year, the virus gets less severe.

So for most it's only a cold. There is a trade off where the potency drops as the virus gets easier to spread. Seems each year less severe. I had last summer and thought it was a weird cold until took a test.

Have been told by my Dr to do test for any URI as on a DMARD for Psoriatic Arthritis

Do you live in a country that still tests?...I'm uk ...I'm a nurse and work for NHS and we don't test