Ffs. DC with classic cold symptoms now has cough.

[cheeseismydownfall]

DC has an absolutely classic cold. Day 1 and 2 sore throat. Day 3, snotty nose. Now Day 4 and he is chesty coughing, following exactly the same pattern he has for every bloody cold he has had ever. Almost all the children in his class also have colds, as they have done in the second week of a new school term since time began. WTF are we supposed to do?

[Yetiyoga]

Get a test?

[KeysDontBelongInTheFridge]

We have the exact same problem. I’ve now got the scratchy throat that my son has and it feels like a cold. Anyway, we’re taking him out of school and going to try and get a test. If we can’t get a test within the first 5 days I guess it’s two weeks quarantine for us

[BillywilliamV]

It’s a cold, a cough is one of the symptoms!

[Yetiyoga]

@BillywilliamV I'm sure it probably is but the guidance is clear. Get a test with a new continuous cough. It is either that or 2 weeks quarantine. I'd rather get tested though because if I had it I would prefer to let people know that I've been in contact with so they can prepare.
There are so many asymptomatic cases, it is really important to get tested with one of the symptoms. Cases are rising so there is every possibility that it could be it.

[MinnieMountain]

It's frustrating. DS had a snotty nose yesterday and woke up today with a persistent cough.

Does anyone know what the rules are if he tests negative (once I manage to book a test)?

[AppleKatie]

You get a test.

I know it’s inconvenient, I know it’s shit for all types of reasons (believe me I’ve been through it all this week) but you get a test because that’s the only thing you can do. Isolate until negative result.

[AppleKatie]

He can go back to school if he feels well enough after a neg test

[RedCatBlueCat]

We are a few days ahead of you.
We are all at home, awaiting results of a test we managed to get after about 2 hrs of trying on Monday morning. I'm 99.9% certain it's a cold. But it's not worth the 0.01% risk.

[ChilledTomotoes]

My DD is saying she has a sore throat. She’s also been sick twice overnight. I’m keeping her off school obviously but really don’t know if I should be getting her tested with these symptoms?

[Velvian]

We are in the same position, DD & DS were meant to start back at school on Monday. DD came down with a cold on Friday, cough on Sunday, still waiting for test results. (posted before 1st post Tuesday). It took a few tries to get tests too.

[Lolly34h]

My daughters nursery told me if they are sick and have a bad tummy they need a test as that's a symptom in children

[MellowMelly]

Just having the same problem here. Granddaughter (2.5 years old) went back to nursery on Monday and has developed a chesty cough and runny nose from yesterday evening. She now can’t go to nursery and we are having to self isolate. I did say to my daughter it will be inevitable that the little one would probably catch something as all the children are mixing again with germs. Just didn’t realise it would be so immediate!

[FippertyGibbett]

Get a test ASAP and send him back if it’s negative.

[Sleepyblueocean]

"My daughters nursery told me if they are sick and have a bad tummy they need a test as that's a symptom in children"

You daughter's nursery is part of the reason why people who need to get a test can't get one or are travelling hundreds of miles to get one.

[superking]

I feel your pain, we are all self-isolating as my cold has turned into a cough (as it always does). DH and the DCs had the cold last week and are now recovered, luckily theirs never developed into a cough.

I managed to book a test last night for this morning and just hoping the result comes back negative asap!

I think we all have to expect this to happen a few times over the winter, but although it's disruptive it is infinitely better than full universal lockdown.

[Choconuttolata]

Get a test, exactly the same here off isolating awaiting test results with 3 children missing school and adults not being able to go to work. Second child now sniveling and DH coughing. We had only got them back to school for a few days. If will be like this all autumn and winter.

[Frazzled2207]

You’re going to have to get a test I’m afraid. This will happen here too but I think cough=test is clear. Imagine the arguments if they said only certain kinds of cough.
However if you can’t get a test I would be arguing vocally to let him back when symptoms have gone. Keep trying throughout the day.

[Karwomannghia]

I’m the same. Cold symptoms, sore throat and sneezing. Luckily got a walk in test yesterday near where I live. Woke up this morning still rough and coughing, so glad I did it and will hopefully get the result today to confirm it’s not IT!

[BighouseLittlemouse]

Hey OP - I feel your pain and also aware how strange it feels to be testing/keeping kids off for what seems like regular colds.

We had this Monday - only been back 2 days. My DS did then get a temp but I’d kept him off with a cough ( and his younger brother). It took a long time to get a test but we eventually managed on Tuesday to drive over an hour to one. Just for the negative result back now.

It’s tricky but if you can get to a drive or walk in it seems to be a lot quicker. One of his classmates was off same time, ordered a home test Tuesday and it still hasn’t arrived. I know that isn’t possible for many though ( my ex actually took my DS).

[Paranoidmarvin]

How are people getting a test for kids under the age of 18. As soon as I put in the age it tells me no

[cheeseismydownfall]

Thanks everyone. Fairly unanimous response.

It's just yet another thing I am so FUCKING frustrated with with this government. This was such a bloody obvious scenario - that thousands and upon thousands of school children would develop cough symptoms in the first could of weeks of term, and yet they have been stubbornly silent on a) acknowledging the problem this presents for parents, especially working parents and b) not be adequately prepared regarding availability of testing. I honestly think this is down to the fact that they are all fucking men and have no actual clue about how frequently little children get colds and how it is almost always the mothers that have to deal with the fall out.

Perhaps I am being unfair but just so pissed off with this.

[Paranoidmarvin]

Oh I hear u. My son was so gutted not to be able to go to college today. He is not due to be back till next Thursday now Due to this.
He has a cold. I know he has a cold. I can’t get a test anywhere. My husbands work are okay. Mine are not. I cannot magic a test. Not sure what to do now

[ButterflyBitch]

ChilledTomotoes

My DD is saying she has a sore throat. She’s also been sick twice overnight. I’m keeping her off school obviously but really don’t know if I should be getting her Tested with these symptoms?

ChilledTomatoes, does she have a new continuous cough, a temperature or loss of taste/smell? If not then no you don’t get her tested. You just treat it like a normal bug and send her back when she’s better.

[Augustbreeze]

@Paranoidmarvin as far as I can see, when you start the booking process you enter your details, later it asks for the child's DoB?

[cheeseismydownfall]

I'm also really fucked off with the blame game the government are playing about people requesting tests who aren't eligible. It smacks of the daily mail taking about benefits cheats. Yes, I'm sure there are some fucking idiots who have requested tests for no good reason, but I bet the majority are people who are genuinely not sure about whether their symptoms are "eligible" particularly given how widely known it is that in reality there are many symptoms other than the main three.