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Original poster

Do I send my son with a cough 😬

127 replies

Dickorydockwhatthe · 14/09/2020 07:16

He stayed home Friday bunged up full of cold which has developed into a cough as the mucus has loosened. No temperature or loss of taste, he feels fine just has the annoy tickly cough you get after a cold especially first thing in the morning. But it always sounds worse first thing but he will probably perk up later!!

OP posts:
PineappleUpsideDownCake · 14/09/2020 10:05

Absolutely noone wants to be coughed on in a classroom at the moment. I cant imagine why anyone would think sending a coughing child into school is currently a good idea.

OhYeahYouSuck · 14/09/2020 10:07

@Rossita

Kings college are reporting that children with C19 are presenting with a cold.

Reported dd’s cold symptoms in the app and was asked to get a test. She was positive. No cough/temperature, just a runny, bunged up nose.

That's worrying! Both of mine have colds and I've sent them as our schools are following the chart from above. DS doesn't usually suffer with a cold but he is moreso this time. I have treated it as I usually would and they aren't displaying any COVID symptoms so I didn't worry. I thought it was inevitable they would be picking up colds now.
PineappleUpsideDownCake · 14/09/2020 10:11

Ive read about the headache/fatigue symptom but its not at all in school or nhs guidance 🤦‍♀️

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Happyhippos2020 · 14/09/2020 10:15

Perhaps the guidance should just be - keep kids off if they are ill? In any way (except long term conditions). For this term at least?

GradeJuno · 14/09/2020 10:17

I sent my own DS in this morning with a slight cough. I know 100% it's from the cold he had the past few days. By now it's probably calmed down to nothing so I am not worried.

Just keep in mind that the nursery/school do have to advise the parents to have a Covid test. However they can not demand proof of a negative result. If my DS is sent home for a test I will keep him off for 2 days and send him back as long as he doesn't have a temp (which he most likely won't after 2 days). There is no way what so ever I will be forcing a plastic tube down his nostrils and don't know any decent parent that would let that happen to their child unless they had too (due to hospitalisation).

Ynwa1234 · 14/09/2020 10:18

Clear cold symptoms here too but didn't send him in. No tests available either. What to do keep self isolating every time they get something like this? I have no answer.

Clymene · 14/09/2020 10:19

PHE advice. No symptoms- doesn't need a test and send him in unless you'd keep him off normally.

Do I send my son with a cough 😬
Happyhippos2020 · 14/09/2020 10:21

@GradeJuno

I sent my own DS in this morning with a slight cough. I know 100% it's from the cold he had the past few days. By now it's probably calmed down to nothing so I am not worried.

Just keep in mind that the nursery/school do have to advise the parents to have a Covid test. However they can not demand proof of a negative result. If my DS is sent home for a test I will keep him off for 2 days and send him back as long as he doesn't have a temp (which he most likely won't after 2 days). There is no way what so ever I will be forcing a plastic tube down his nostrils and don't know any decent parent that would let that happen to their child unless they had too (due to hospitalisation).

Er what?

What are we going to do if every parent refuses to get a test for their coughing child?

I think I'm a 'decent parent' but if my child gets symptoms (and I can get a test) I'll be doing one to protect others

And you don't know 100% that it's not Covid, I'm afraid. That's impossible.

PineappleUpsideDownCake · 14/09/2020 10:32

"A slight cough" is a covid symptom 🤦‍♀️.

GradeJuno · 14/09/2020 10:34

What are we going to do if every parent refuses to get a test for their coughing child?

We will end up with less children forced to go through a traumatic experience for the sake of a test that will probably give a false positive and then have to isolate for 2 weeks. No income for the parents, no visits to elderly family members who need shopping delivered/meals cooked/house cleaning/laundry doing, no social contact for children who have already had their social development completely stalled for months on end, no walks outside, more chance of domestic abuse and child abuse getting worse, children cannot rely on school meals and may not be able to eat, families have a dip in income that could be the difference between bills or food.

And all because 1 child gets ill at the most germ filled season each year since - ever. Hmm

It's about using common sense and weighing out the risks and probability. Not running home to cry and hide because a toddler coughed three times in 24 hours.

vanillandhoney · 14/09/2020 10:35

I sent my own DS in this morning with a slight cough. I know 100% it's from the cold he had the past few days. By now it's probably calmed down to nothing so I am not worried.

Until you get a test, you have no idea that it's just a cold. Children with continuous coughs should not be in school until they've tested negative for COVID.

And this is how it spreads.

seven201 · 14/09/2020 11:45

@PineappleUpsideDownCake

"A slight cough" is a covid symptom 🤦‍♀️.
It lists as a new, continuous cough that you need to get a test for. I don't think a slight cough should be tested. That's why they're running out of tests/lab space etc.
PineappleUpsideDownCake · 14/09/2020 11:46

A new continuous cough is one that makes you cough 3 x in 24 hours. Of course a child with a slight cough fits that category.

PineappleUpsideDownCake · 14/09/2020 11:46

This is why its spreading and people are being missed 🤦‍♀️

Bluelinings · 14/09/2020 12:17

It’s supposed to be any one of the symptoms, isolate.

I don’t get how the same people who say kids only get a very mild illness with COVID also say i will send my child in because they only have a mild illness so it can’t be Covid.

flumpster123 · 14/09/2020 12:28

No tests available here Angry

PowPurry · 14/09/2020 12:33

I could have wrote this this morning too, OP.
Me and DS have had a cold since Friday (blocked and runny nose, feeling a bit rough, but no temp etc) but this morning he was coughing like a good’un.
I am 99% certain its just a cold, but they would not have him, or his siblings, until he is tested. Work with me weren’t sure what to do, so are getting back to me. It’s not too bad if I’m off as I get full pay, but if DH has to be off too every time one of the DC has a cold related cough, we are screwed! It’s going to be a long winter.

Now, he is going to be better soon, and then of course his sister will come down with it, and then his other sister. The cycle will continue. No tests were available when I checked at 9am this morning. I will continue trying at intervals throughout today.

RubbishQueen · 14/09/2020 12:44

We followed the guidance.

We did the online 111 thing and it said to call 111. So we called 111. They did the assessment and said that because of the cough they are referring us to our GP and to call them as they know my child's history. (She always gets a cough with a cold ever since having croup as a baby.) Was told not to book a test and contact our GP. Booked a telephone appointment with our GP and rang the school. The school knew why I was ringing because pretty much every other parent in her year had rung as their child has a cold, as does the TA and Teacher. School said to send my child in.

GP agreed that it was a cold especially when I told the GP what the school had said. GP was happy it was just a cold, no need for a test as her cough is a common occurrence during a cold and she could be sent into school.

Dreamingofcreamcakes20 · 14/09/2020 13:02

Where is this guidance?

SaltyAndFresh · 14/09/2020 13:13

Schools are not being over-zealous. If you expect school staff to take their chances in full-to-bursting schools, have the courtesy to test without complaint.

Pheobeasy · 14/09/2020 13:18

This is why the government really needs to give clear guidance to the public and also to schools etc. No wonder there is a shortage of tests if people are having to get tests to be allowed back into school etc when it's clearly a cold. And for those who say you can't tell, if that's the view then the government need to substantially up the amount of tests they can do.

Bluelinings · 14/09/2020 13:19

The guidance is on gov.uk as it has been since March.

It has always been the message that you isolate if you get ANY of the symptoms. That means one or more.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

Do I send my son with a cough 😬
Bluelinings · 14/09/2020 13:20

The government need to up the amount of tests so it doesn’t spread via those with mild cases who think they’re fine.

Wargghhhh · 14/09/2020 13:26

DH had a cold, cleared up in a few days. DS caught the cold (lots of sneezing) then a cough, so we kept him off school as didn't want him coughing in class and worrying everyone. DS went back to school today but DD caught cold over weekend and now has a slight cough, so have now kept her off for same reason.

Just had call from school to pick DS up as according to them both children should be isolating at home until tested.

Went to test centre (thankfully a slot easily) and test centre NOT happy that kids have been sent to school because of cold symptoms.

Now have to wait for results before sending them back. We're lucky that DH and I both WFH. It's very frustrating nonetheless.

MrsStefani · 14/09/2020 13:26

Can people please please test if their child has covid symptoms! I really want my children to have an education at some point this year! Sad

Plus think of children's vulnerable family members and also the teachers too.