Two terrified parents are convinced their teenage sons have a deadly new 'inflammatory syndrome' linked to Covid-19 and only affecting children - but claim their GP refused to test them.
Sabrina and Steve Legge, from Bath, Somerset, have been left petrified for the health of sons Dylan, 16, and Colston, 14, who they believe have both shown symptoms of a new strain of coronavirus after suffering sickness, diarrhoea, stabbing chest pains and blistering on their tongues since last week.
GPs were recently alerted to a sharp rise in infants being admitted to intensive care with a rare inflammatory disease - a Kawasaki-like illness similar to toxic shock syndrome - but with blood markers in line with severe Covid-19 in children.
Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty then said it could 'entirely plausibly' be linked to the coronavirus outbreak, with some youngsters reportedly having already died from the condition.
Mum Sabrina and stepdad Steve claim they initially raised concerns with their hometown GP, Combe Down Surgery, last Friday (April 24) after Dylan had been ill for 10 days, but were advised to call back on Monday if the symptoms persisted.
But following fresh warnings from Matt Hancock that the new strain could be fatal, Sabrina, 42, and Steve, 47, were left even more concerned when Colston, who has autism, fell ill with the same symptoms on Sunday.
And the pair were left furious after they claim they called their GP back on Monday with concerns about both sons to allegedly be told 'it doesn't matter what Matt Hancock says - we don't hand out tests willy-nilly'.
The terrified parents are now begging medics to test their sons before it is too late.
Radiology assistant and mum-of-three Sabrina said: "It's frustrating and terrifying.
"Your biggest concern is your kids, there's nothing more important than their health.
"Dylan has been in so much pain he couldn't sleep, he's been in more pain than when he had appendicitis two years ago - I've never seen him like this.
"When you hear Matt Hancock saying about these new findings and you get straight onto the GP the next day only to be fobbed off, it's just really worrying.
"We called NHS 111 and they said they were 90 per cent sure it was this new inflammatory disease linked to Covid-19 as well, but the only thing they can do is refer us to our GP who would need to then refer the boys to be tested and treated.
"It really does scare you as a parent, you just worry what's going to happen to them."
The family have been self-isolating together at their home with Sabrina's three children, Chloe, 17, Dylan, and Colston and Steve's daughter, Jessica, nine, for the last six weeks.
But they were dealt a devastating blow when Steve's own stepfather, Kev Raynor, 59, succumbed to the virus earlier this month.
After initially starting with vomiting and diarrhoea, Dylan's condition worsened to include constant stomach cramps and stabbing pains in chest that were so agonising he couldn't sleep or manage a meal.
Now Colston has started with the same sickness symptoms that his brother had, and the couple fear he will follow Dylan's pattern and develop agonising chest and stomach pains.
Property maintenance business owner, Steve, has branded the alleged decision by the GP to not test the boys for Covid-19 as 'disgusting' after already losing a loved-one to the pandemic.
He said: "I'm absolutely furious and I think it's disgusting.
"I understand that the tests are very short but on one hand you have the Health Secretary telling people that children with these symptoms need to be referred as a matter of urgency, and then when we call the GP they refuse to see them or do anything.
"Dylan's had severe chest pains and stomach cramps, he's needed to go to the toilet every five minutes, he's been really ill.
"And now Colston is showing the same symptoms that Dylan had when this first started, he's got blisters on his tongue and bloodshot eyes and he's started vomiting.
"The GP basically told us that 'it doesn't matter what Matt Hancock says, we don't give tests out willy-nilly'.
"I've already lived through losing a loved one to Covid-19, we won't sit and watch it take one of our kids."
A spokesperson for Combe Down Surgery said: "While we are unable to comment on the healthcare of individual patients, we would like to reiterate the national guidance that any person with coronavirus-like symptoms should self-isolate for at least seven days, and to contact their GP should these symptoms persist for longer than a week.
"In most cases, children seem to be less susceptible to the effects of coronavirus than adults, however we would encourage any parent who has a child suffering from an urgent or pressing health concern, such as chest pain and a persistent high temperature, to seek help by calling NHS 111 or - in the most serious cases - 999."
