29/12/2020
Important guidelines for patients with kidney disease during the pandemic:
Do not leave your home if you or anyone in your household has Covid-19 symptoms, and call your kidney unit before attending dialysis or other appointments.
Everyone should follow the guidance for their own area, depending on which Tier/alert level they are in. Everyone should work from home if they can, limit contact with other people, follow social distancing measures if they go out (2m apart) and wash hands regularly.
Having moderate to advanced (stage 3+) chronic kidney disease increases your risk of becoming very unwell if you are infected with Covid-19. People with moderate to advanced CKD (stage 3+) fall within the ‘Clinically Vulnerable Group’ or the ‘Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Group’ depending on their stage of CKD and level of treatment.
People in the clinically extremely vulnerable group are at highest risk of very poor outcomes following Covid-19 infection and are advised to follow the guidance that applies in their area.
People in the clinically vulnerable group should also carefully follow social distancing guidelines.
It is important to seek support if you are shielding yourself and help is available.
Where does this information come from?
This information is produced on behalf of and with the kidney community, using the latest government and NHS guidance and that of the Renal Association and its partners.
Kidney Care UK, NKF, Renal Association, and British Renal Society logos together
What should I do if I have symptoms of Covid-19?
If you have:
a high temperature (over 37.8 degrees)
a new continuous cough or
a loss or change in your normal sense of smell or taste.
Then you should get a test as soon as possible, self-isolate and stay at home at least for ten days and your whole household should stay at home for 10 days if you share a home with other people. There is government guidance on self isolation, including the rules for your household and/or support bubble.
Please do not go to your renal unit until you have spoken to them on the telephone, and do not go to your GP or pharmacy. Dialysis patients with symptoms of Covid-19 should contact their dialysis unit. You will still need to go to dialysis, and they will let you know when that will be.
If during the 10 days of isolation you feel your symptoms are worsening, or if after seven days you do not feel better then please use the NHS 111 coronavirus service, telling the call handler about your kidney condition, and keep your dialysis unit updated.
If you are in the clinically extremely vulnerable group of patients and you develop symptoms of Covid-19 you should let your kidney doctor know. You should also seek clinical advice using the NHS 111 online coronavirus service or call NHS111 if you don’t have internet access, telling the call handler about your kidney condition. Do this as soon as you get symptoms. In an emergency, call 999 if you are seriously ill. Do not visit the GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or a hospital. Do not change your medications unless advised to do so by your renal unit
For more information and support for people who are required to self-isolate because they have Covid-19, please see the government guidance for people with confirmed or possible coronavirus (Covid-19) infection
Testing for Covid-19
Anyone experiencing a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change in your normal sense of smell or taste can have a test by visiting the NHS coronavirus page. For more information about having a Covid-19 test, please see our blog about one person’s experience of the testing process.
Those unable to access the internet can call 119 in England and Wales or 0300 303 2713 in Scotland and Northern Ireland to book a test. Testing will either be done by visiting a regional test centre, or a limited number of home testing kits are available.
What does the result mean?
A positive result means that you have a Coronavirus infection.
You must stay at home for at least 10 days if you are well.
You should seek medical help if you are feeling more unwell.
Everyone in your household and/or anyone you have been in close contact with from your support bubble must self-isolate for 10 days.
Support for people who are self-isolating is available from NHS Volunteers.
A negative result
Usually means you did not have Coronavirus on the day that the test was done.
You could still get a Coronavirus infection in the future.
What should I do if I have a negative test result?
You can stop self-isolating if you test negative, as long as:
Everyone you live with who has Coronavirus symptoms also tests negative.
You feel well
You must keep self-isolating if:
Someone in your home tests positive (you may still get Coronavirus infection)
Someone in your home has symptoms and has not been tested, or is awaiting test results
You have diarrhoea or you’re being sick - stay at home until 48 hours after they've stopped
If you still feel unwell or your condition is worsening, seek medical help as you may have something else wrong with you which needs treatment.
Does a negative result always mean that I don’t have Coronavirus infection?
A small number of kidney patients have an illness typical of Coronavirus but have a negative swab result.
This is more likely if you take medication to suppress your immune system, for example steroids or antirejection medicines for a kidney transplant.
We are still learning about this type of illness, and the Coronavirus Antibody test (see below) may be helpful in this situation.
It is always best to be cautious – if you feel unwell, please seek advice from your kidney unit as you may need further tests or treatment.
I had coronavirus infection and my swab tests are still positive after at least two weeks – what does this mean?
This is happening in a small number of kidney patients.
If you are feeling well, you do not need to worry.
As Coronavirus is a new disease, we still don’t know exactly what this means or whether you could still pass on the virus to others.
It is best to discuss this with your kidney doctor, who may need to ask infection specialists for advice.
Contact tracing
The NHS “Test and Trace” service has been set up to limit the spread of Coronavirus. When a positive case is identified, anyone who has been a “close contact” will be advised to self-isolate for 10 days from the day they were in contact with the person testing positive. A “close contact” is anyone who was within a 2 metre distance for at least 15 minutes.
The NHS Covid-19 App has launched in England and Wales as part of the testing and contact tracing programme. It will help to notify users of the app if they have been in contact with someone who later tests positive for the virus. It can be used to report symptoms, check into venues for contact tracing purposes and book a test.
Scotland has a similar app that people are encouraged to download, called Protect Scotland.
The StopCovid app for the Northern Ireland is explained here
It can take sometime to develop Coronavirus after you have been in contact with an infected person. Therefore, even if you feel well, you must follow instructions to isolate to protect the people around you, including your family and other kidney patients. There are fines for breaching the rules or for forcing someone else to breach self-isolation.
If you have regular haemodialysis treatment, a “close contact” may include a patient who had dialysis at the same time as you even if they were not within 2 metres of you.
Read more at👇👇
Keep safe 😊
The latest news and information about COVID-19 for kidney patients
