DD has a cough

[Bobbiepin]

Dd (2) is home from nursery today with a chesty cough and a mild temp (highest 38.1, now about 37.5). I'm not worried about covid 19 but I was wondering if she's still not great over the weekend or by Monday, how would I go about seeking help?

Usually I would ring GP but I don't want them to assume corona and not have her come in. I also don't want to have to take her to walk in/doctors type place where we might expose her (and me, I have a respiratory disease) to anything else.

I know 111 is probably the best advice but any other ideas?

I'd say for a cough and temperature of 37.5 you don't need to do anything. Just let it run it's course.

If you're concerned I'd do what I usually do and call the GP, they will be able to triage over the phone and advise what your next steps, if any, are.

I wouldn't do anything that all just let it run its course.

Ring the GP surgery and ask them. I would leave it til Monday before you do anything though. Control the temp with calpol and keep an ear out for any wheezing in her chest (wheezing should be checked out).

What @Daffodilsforspring said. So many parents go to the docs the first sign of a cold and it’s nuts IMO - most of them are viral; if the chesty cough or temp persists and you think it might have become bacterial then you can go, but I’d wait at least a week with symptoms such as you’ve described.

For coughs I don’t think they do anything unless it’s been over two weeks?

@EugenesAxe I agree, wouldn't have thought twice about it usually. I'm not doing anything until next week at the earliest. Usually our GP would see us or give advice over the phone because of my history but I don't want anyone jumping to conclusions unnecessarily.

I think you need to follow the new stay at home guidance www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

It says self-isolate for 7 days and phone 111 or use NHS online 111 if you need advice.

Well according to the press conference being broadcast at present, you isolate her for 7 days.

Meh, it’s not coronavirus. Coronavirus causes a dry cough, not chesty. It’s possibly Bronchiolitis or could just be a cold. My 16 month old had Bronchiolitis last weekend and had to spend the night in hospital because it was affecting his breathing. Very scary for me but he’s fine now. Coronavirus wasn’t even mentioned fwiw because doctors have common sense.

Meh

It's cavalier dickhead comments like that, that are going to kill vulnerable people. The message during the press conference a moment ago was for anyone with a 'new, continuous cough' to self isolate, not 'self diagnose as either chesty or dry then isolate accordingly'.

Doesn't matter what kind of cough. A cough + temperature = stay home for 7 days.

It's not corona virus, she's had a runny nose for ages, and has been coughing upon waking for weeks. Initially I was concerned about asthma but she shows no other symptoms.

This was my concern - everyone gets distracted by the possibility of corona when actually bronchiolitis is more dangerous for her; it's when I should seek medical help.

Whether it’s coronavirus or not, the temp even without the cough means she falls under the self isolation guidelines and they say that if you want medical advice it’s NHS online or 111 you need to be contacting.

Yes definitely self isolate for 7 days and if you think it is bronchial then call 111 for advice but definitely do the 7 days as they are saying even mild symptoms. Plus none of us can really know for sure. My DD has a temperature today and yes it has come down but im isolating her for 7 days.

Does isolating her mean DH and I (totally asymptomatic) need to be isolated too?

No they haven't said whole families. There's really good advice here on staying home. www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection