Hands up if you already have a child off school with a cough?

[AlohaMolly]

👋🏼 👋🏼

DS is 4, started reception on Thursday. In Thursday Friday, developed a cough at bedtime last night and was up with it every half hour until I gave him some calpol.

No temp, just a cough and a runny nose. I think I’d probably have sent him under normal circumstances but called the school to check and he said to keep him home today and see how he is tomorrow.

I shouldn’t have to say it, but THIS IS NOT A TEACHER/SCHOOL BASHING THREAD. I used to be a teacher and support the school fully with their approach. Luckily, I ‘only’ work 2.5 days a week, one of them a weekend day, so I’m fine to be off with DS, but it’s 90% of the reason I haven’t taken more hours on like I’d planned to originally.

It’s going to be a long winter, isn’t it??

[OverTheRainbow88]

Yup, same here! The test came back within 24 hours negative so sent them back to nursery and pre school!

[AlohaMolly]

Ooh did you test because they had a cough? How did they react to the test?

[GIitterySequinBoobTube]

Here, miss!
Have an appointment at the drive-through which will be fun. DC has been coughing until 4am.
We shall see what transpires.

[RedCatBlueCat]

Yes!
I'm 99.9% certain it's because he's got a runny nose.
But we are all at home. Postal test ordered - no walk in tests available. So I guess we are here for at least 3 days. What a fab start to secondary

[AntiHop]

This winter is going to be particularly fun if you don't have a car (like me) and you have to wait for a postal test each time.

[AlohaMolly]

Oh jeez.

I’d love to know how many are actually in our small village school today!

[AlohaMolly]

Will you all test every time they have a cough?

[HasaDigaEebowai]

Ooh did you test because they had a cough? How did they react to the test?

You need to test to get him back to school.

[SlumdogMummy]

Yes! DS has allergic rhinitis and had a runny nose last week, I knew it would go on his chest. The added bonus of a temperature spike meant we went for a test yesterday. Now waiting....

[LucyWarlowsRightHand]

Not a cough, but sore throat. She was tested yesterday (we’re non-UK FWIW) so we’re just waiting on the results.

[ChicCroissant]

My secondary school aged child always has a cough after a cold and she's got one now - I have a feeling this could be us in a couple of days!

[WankmasterBastardDeLaShithead]

Yep, one child had a cough after a classic head cold, so had to keep all three kids off school on Thursday and Friday. I also had to drive 1.5 hours to the test centre.

[BaronessBomburst]

Yes, one child was at school last week with a snotty nose and now they've all got it. DS (10) sounds like Darth Vader so he's home.
I'm bloody annoyed but said child's parents are totally laissez-faire and it's not the first time I've raised an eyebrow at their parenting.

[Tootletum]

Yeah. Going to be awhile term of this

[BaronessBomburst]

DS has a cough, as well as sounding like Darth Vader.

[AlohaMolly]

@BaronessBomburst

Yes, one child was at school last week with a snotty nose and now they've all got it. DS (10) sounds like Darth Vader so he's home.
I'm bloody annoyed but said child's parents are totally laissez-faire and it's not the first time I've raised an eyebrow at their parenting.

50% of the reason I kept DS off is because I didn’t want to be judged by the other parents for sending a coughing child in

[MiniMileyMoo]

Any of the three main symptoms (cough, temp, loss/change of taste/smell) you must book a test and isolate until you get the results.

www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

[dementedpixie]

What is a continuous cough though? Ds has a snotty nose and snot is making him cough intermittently when it gets in his throat.

Nhs says this:

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)

How much is a lot? What is a coughing episode. Does a cough every so often count as continuous?

[TheLastStarfighter]

Yes, had to quarantine us all when 12yo and I both came down with a cough, even though it was at the end of a cold so we knew what it was.

Have you ordered a home test? We went to the drive through one, but it's just the same kit and you do it yourself in the car. I think you get the results back a day sooner with the drive through one though.

[Iamonlyme]

Yep. Age 6 ds started back Thursday running a temp yesterday but with runny noses temp still high this morning so 99.9% sure its just a cold but back to isolation until test arrives and we have all clear. It's going to be a long winter.

[TeddyIsaHe]

Yep! Dd has a cough start Friday morning, tested Saturday, negative result Sunday evening.

You must get a test though, a cough (even if you think it’s a cold) is a symptom. Don’t be THAT parent that thinks they know better. In all likelihood it’ll be negative, but you need to isolate totally, only going out for the test, until you have the results.

[HerLadySheep]

👋🏻 my child is off after just one day as his friend has confirmed COVID-19 so we've all been tested and we're just waiting for the results now. Not the best start back but not unexpected

[dementedpixie]

@HerLadySheep, Why did you all get tested? Shouldn't be testing unless you have symptoms. A negative test will not bring your child out of isolation any sooner due to the 14 day incubation period

[Wanderer1]

You have to get a test for every new cough, them's the rules!

[Carouselfish]

Had it the week before she went back due to playdate. Temp, snotty nose, no cough. Got tests for us both so she could start school. She was fine after 3-4 days, I on the other hand am still snotty and coughy!