Do I need to keep ds off school?

[cosmicsweets]

He has a cold which is always accompanied by a cough. Does this mean he cannot go to school tomorrow?

How many more of these threads are we going to get?

He has a recognised symptom of covid. Whether you think you can diagnose this as a cold or not is irrelevant. You get him tested.

what I find confusing re the coughing guidelines is it states 'a new continuous cough' which is obviously straightforward to interpret.

Or, 3 coughing episodes in 24 hours, which is less clear. Do they mean coughing continuously for 3 periods within that 24 hours?

My DS currently has normal symptoms of a cold which follows the same predictable pattern. First day or two of symptoms, occasional sneezing, followed by nasal congestion and then on around day 3/4 the cough starts. It's definitely not continuous, but he has coughed 3 times since we got up this morning! Does that mean he needs to test?

But that is clearly in the government guidelines!

A new persistent cough, which is coughing 3 times in 24 hours, requires a test. This has been the guidelines for months

Yes, but people really need to understand the difference between a significant coughing fit whereby it is hard to catch your breath and not simply coughing mildly several times during the hour due to being a bit snotty (as is perfectly normal with the common cold). That is what is meant by 'new, persistent cough'.

Covid shares it symptoms with probably 1001 other common viral infections so spotting the differences between those shared symptoms is key. At this rate people are going to be expected to take a test every single morning just to determine whether they are allowed outside their front door or not.

@Cauterize

what I find confusing re the coughing guidelines is it states 'a new continuous cough' which is obviously straightforward to interpret.

Or, 3 coughing episodes in 24 hours, which is less clear. Do they mean coughing continuously for 3 periods within that 24 hours?

My DS currently has normal symptoms of a cold which follows the same predictable pattern. First day or two of symptoms, occasional sneezing, followed by nasal congestion and then on around day 3/4 the cough starts. It's definitely not continuous, but he has coughed 3 times since we got up this morning! Does that mean he needs to test?

Yes. He has a new cough. It wasn’t a one off, it’s continuing through the day.

@pennylane83 - you can’t diagnose Covid by listening to a cough or looking at the person. If it was as easy as just “spotting the difference” between symptoms then we wouldn’t even need to test

There’s a long list of symptoms, many of which are identical to other viruses, and most infectious might not have any of them! It’s not an easy virus to diagnose.

Yes, but people really need to understand the difference between a significant coughing fit whereby it is hard to catch your breath and not simply coughing mildly several times during the hour due to being a bit snotty (as is perfectly normal with the common cold). That is what is meant by 'new, persistent cough'.

Where is this definition from?

Where is this definition from?

Various news articles (all of which can be googled) and it is how a number of guest GPs they have had on TV over the last six months have described a new, persistent cough as being.

This is what has stuck with me anyway and if it is now being defined differently then a clearer more consistent message needs to be put out so as to stop any confusion rather than simply 'new, persistent cough' (which can be interpreted in different ways - as seen on this thread), but, given the handling of the situation to date the confusion seems to work in the governments favour in terms of being able to pass the buck at a later date.

This is what the NHS says. Nothing about the cough making you breathless.

A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)

@greengreengrass14

What about postal tests? Anyone are they mythical?

Not mythical. I have to test weekly and use the postal tests.

Oh god I'm dreading this Ds is back in school tommorow ,the guidelines are that we have to keep them every time they have any of the symptoms ,he coughed a bit this morning but nothing since ,I'm in sodding Bolton ,so we have the highest rates in the country.

My child missed the first day of school as she had a cold and was very snotty. Sent her the next day, the school was more then happy. Her cough was a cold cough. Not a persistent dry cough as the covid cough is described

I've got it now, it's a cold. There will be no kids in schools if they are off forn14 days everytime they have a cold

My 7yo has a cold. She's going to school tomorrow.

But she doesn't have a cough. Just a croaky voice and snotty nose.

Standard cold symptoms.

No fever, doesn't feel unwell in herself. Wolfed down a croissant and said it was delicious so can clearly taste fine.

If she had an actual cough then I'd be more concerned but I think for a standard cold we don't need to waste testing spaces.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-54028073

At my daughter’s high school just in her form alone, baring in mind she only went back Friday. There was a kid continually coughing all day and another kid had just come back from Spain. Thats two pupils who shouldn’t have been at school but were and no one batter an eyelid 🙄

We’re in Scotland. Been back 3.5 weeks. They’ve almost all had between 1 day and 1 week off with colds. Some got tests (fever or cough) most didn’t (just snotty). It’s still a lot better than no school at all.

@User45

The test is really unpleasant.

Jesus Christ is really isn't.

It's a cotton swab in your nose that feels odd and one in you mouth which is only annoying if you're trying not to cough in their face!

I'd say on a medical scale it sits somewhere between a gp measuring your temp through your ears and a quick vaccine (though no lingering side effects or bruised arm!).

Maybe for you, and that's great. But for me, I had nose discomfort that lasted 24 hours - and I googled to see if this was normal and it happens to many people.

Please take note! We're home educating this term because we thought the disruption with tests, starting, stopping, endless coughs that could be something else-the drama, basically. Our children are having an interrupted education. Getting the children back to learning isn't necessarily the same as getting them back to school for many motivated parents with the ability to provide an educational experience without all this faffing. And it's several less children for our (supportive) school to faff about.

@Morfin

Good luck with getting one tho, hope you fancy a road trip.

They're everywhere now. Our small town has a drive through testing centre.

@cosmicsweets Call the school in the morning and ask them. That way you don't risk him being sent home again

@Redraptor
It is not just a dry cough.
ANY persistent cough!!!!

"It's definitely not continuous, but he has coughed 3 times since we got up this morning! Does that mean he needs to test?"

For 3 coughing episodes yes. For 3 single coughs no.

Yes test.

The test is nothing. I was ill in May so myself, dh and old 14 year ds all administered our own tests and it was very, very mildly uncomfortable. That's all. Thankfully they were all negative.

I haven't read all replies yet but will when I can. Ds hasn't coughed since he got out of bed this morning. Nose is still running though. I am now debating if the test is the best option or not.

I got told off on another thread this morning for considering having a test. My daughter has had a snotty nose for a few days.

I had a cough yesterday evening although more chesty and a sore throat. I was wondering if I should test as although I felt fairly comfortable it was a cold i didn't want to be responsible for the school shutting if it was more.

I woke up today to a croaky voice added to that plus blocked ears and the cough is definitely full of flem. I have made the call that this is a cold / throat infection.