COVID-19 "Tylenol Test" T /F?

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Specializes in Ophthalmology.

So the world had turned topsy-turvy with COVID-19. My wife and kids are both home because everything has shut down. They have been social distancing, as it were, for about two weeks. The only exception is that my wife had to go to the local ER a week ago Sunday and then again on Wednesday for an MRI.

Then yesterday she says that she has a fever (99.4 F) a runny nose off & on and a slightly sore throat. and jaw pain. But at the end of the day she says it is all gone. It is back again today. Her fever never went above 99.5 F. Sore throat is back. And a cough. So I say call our PCP, tell them what is going on.

The nurse says to self-quarantine and take Tylenol. And...

Here is the crux of my issue...

"Take the Tylenol, if your fever goes down, you don't have "it" [COVID-19], and if your fever doesn't, you have "it".

I don't know it all, but I would love to know more. So, fellow Nurses, does this correlate with your clinical experience? Any anecdotal experiences? (influenza, COVID-19 or anything else?)

Anyone heard about any research along these lines? (Acetaminophen effects being an indicator to r/o or r/I Corona Virus or even any virus?)

Looking to be better informed,

T-Wave

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This is so ridiculous. I hope the public doesn't get confused and think that this is accurate (there was that crazy email that claimed to be from Stanford a few weeks ago). Tylenol will reduce one's fever whether or not you have COVID-19.

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Are you sure you were talking to a nurse and not an MA although, truth be told I've met some really thick nurses in my career.

Also, point of clarification, it is generally accepted that an adult does not have a fever until it reaches 100.4. This is even the standard for immuno-compromised patients.

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Specializes in Ophthalmology.

Hi Wuzzie,

Thanks for clarifying about the low grade temp./ fever.

It is this kind of disinformation that we *don't* need.

Yes I am sure it was a nurse. I actually got alot of blow-back from her. saying I thought she was, essentially, a hypochondriac! Just because I was skeptical of the sketchy advice she was given!

But I certainly don't know everything. I was thinking that maybe the nurse meant something like it is bacterial if her fever responded to the acetaminophen and viral if it did not. But, like Trust in Jesus said it should just work.

Best,

T-Wave

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3 minutes ago, T-Wave said:

Yes I am sure it was a nurse. I actually got alot of blow-back from her. saying I thought she was, essentially, a hypochondriac! Just because I was skeptical of the sketchy advice she was given!

But I certainly don't know everything. I was thinking that maybe the nurse meant something like it is bacterial if her fever responded to the acetaminophen and viral if it did not. But, like Trust in Jesus said it should just work.

Yes, and I would take this up the chain at the office. This kind of misinformation could kill someone.

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Quote

The nurse says to self-quarantine and take Tylenol. And...

To quote the famous philosopher, Inigo Montoya "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

Bear in mind that in many doctor's offices that word you used means woman wearing scrubs, and has little to do with training, certification, or knowledge base.

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Specializes in Critical Care (MICU).

I’m in ICU, and we are sent to take care of the critical COVID patients. The nurses and intensivists on my floor have had lengthy discussions almost every night about diagnose and treatment...and I have NEVER heard this. Tylenol doesn’t always knock out a fever effectively on its own in other situations, so I’m not sure where that information came from. I’d go for a second opinion on that one.

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Yeah, your doctor’s hired help is not very bright. Tylenol is Tylenol-it should help reduce a fever. COVID19 may or may not cause a fever. So may other viruses or bacteria infections. What she should of done was properly triage your wife, go over symptom management, when/where to get tested if needed, and when if it got bad enough to seek emergency care. Many offices are not seeing potential COVID19 patients but they should be able to direct on care and if your wife wanted to get tested where she should go to have it done. Shrugging it off and saying Tylenol will determine the status is completely crazy. If that was the case so many sepsis cases that I’ve had in my past acute care experience would of been deemed COVID19 positive by the office Covidiot.

This is something that definitely needs to be brought up with a supervisor-like another poster stated-this is the kind of information that can kill people. You called a doctor’s office. The advice you should be given should be accurate and true-not some load of BS to shut you up.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

This is absolutely false. The truth is that Covid symptoms are known to come and go, with or without Tylenol. Your wife should isolate herself from the rest of the family and get a Covid test. I hope she feels better soon.

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Specializes in Emergency Department.
15 hours ago, NurseSpeedy said:

What she should of done was properly triage your wife, go over symptom management, when/where to get tested if needed, and when if it got bad enough to seek emergency care.

4 hours ago, Nurse SMS said:

Your wife should isolate herself from the rest of the family and get a Covid test.

These^^^

In UK if you have symptoms you call the NHS and arrange to get a test then you know.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/

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4 hours ago, Nurse SMS said:

I hope she feels better soon.

Me too. This post was from March. It would suck if she was still sick. ?

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