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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should DD go to school today?

63 replies

LavaSpider · 09/09/2020 07:30

DD is 13. It's her first day back in school for 6 months today.
She's woken up with a steaming cold - snot, watery eyes, sneezing plus an occasional cough. I know it's a only a cold and not Covid - nowhere in the Covid symptoms do you get a runny nose and sneezing which is her main symptom.
But it's going to make it awkward for her wearing a mask, not touching her face etc and I know everyone is going to be on ultra high alert today.
WIBU to send her in to school anyway?

OP posts:
middleager · 09/09/2020 07:31

No. She has a cough, one of the symptoms.

Toppingpoint · 09/09/2020 07:31

If you keep her off will she be having a Covid test?

Stannisbaratheonsboxofmatches · 09/09/2020 07:33

No, no one should be going in with a streaming cold. Not because of COVID but because she’s too ill.

QforCucumber · 09/09/2020 07:33

An occasional cough is not a covid symptom. You should only be tested if you show symptoms.

BlackeyedSusan · 09/09/2020 07:34

Symptoms for kids are different. Get a test.

Original poster
LavaSpider · 09/09/2020 07:34

It's a very occasional cough, just when the snot builds up in her throat. Not a continuous or unproductive one.
I wouldn't waste a test on her so no, I'll wait for a day or two and she'll be better.

OP posts:
Serin · 09/09/2020 07:36

Nope.
When I had covid I very much had snot along with a cough.
Keep her home and ring 111 for advice.

Stannisbaratheonsboxofmatches · 09/09/2020 07:37

I agree ring 111

Mammaaof · 09/09/2020 07:37

My sons just been in hospital and consultant said they are seeing more runny noses linked with covid in kids. She has a cough, get a test. Keep her off.

glitterelf · 09/09/2020 07:39

Keep her off and get a test, symptoms in children are different and a snotty nose is one of those.

RedHelenB · 09/09/2020 07:43

Juat googled it and a cold is not a symptom. If shes well enough in herself to go then she should go in.

Treaclepie19 · 09/09/2020 07:45

My sons school have said they're not to miss school for a cold. They've outlined that unless they have a persistent cough/fever/taste or smell change they're to go in with a runny nose/sore throat.
Its a good job really because most of them have caught this cold in their first week.

CuntyMcBollocks · 09/09/2020 07:48

My DD also had a cold and had a cough for 2 days and is now absolutely fine, but her school won't allow her back until she's been tested for covid. Im struggling to get a test booked anywhere, which means she's missed out on another few days of school.

justanotherneighinparadise · 09/09/2020 07:49

My child’s primary has made it clear they don’t want children in who are explosively symptomatic. Ie big coughs and sneezes. So I’m keeping my seven year old off today.

Feminist10101 · 09/09/2020 07:50

@middleager

No. She has a cough, one of the symptoms.
No suggestion that it meets the criteria set for testing: persistent cough - 1 bout of more than 1 hour or 3 bouts of coughing in 24 hours.

You should keep her off for the cold if she’s coughing and spluttering. Else everyone in her year will be having to stay off (and many will test unnecessarily causing other problems).

justanotherneighinparadise · 09/09/2020 07:50

Plus there are no covid tests available as my friend is currently desperately trying to get tested as her and her husband are ill.

So fun and games for all.

Feminist10101 · 09/09/2020 07:51

@glitterelf

Keep her off and get a test, symptoms in children are different and a snotty nose is one of those.
Got a link for that? Not covered by any official guidance/testing criteria.
Hiremee · 09/09/2020 07:54

Im in a similar situation this morning OP! Sorry to hijack - quick question - if your child coughed Loudly twice when they woke up this morning (1 hour ago) and not since, are they still ok to send?
I never thought I’d have to think this hard about sending to school over 2 coughs Blush

MandUs · 09/09/2020 07:57

Normal cold symptoms are symptoms of Covid, just not the ones we are told to look out for.

dementedpixie · 09/09/2020 07:57

I kept ds off for a few days as he had a heavy cold - sore throat, snot, occasional cough to clear the crap from his throat. Didnt want people treating him like a leper. Our school has said to send them in with cold symptoms if they are feeling ok and keep them off if they have the 3 main symptoms. Many thousands of children have been tested since starting back school in Scotland and only a handful of positive cases were found.

Bobbyandme · 09/09/2020 08:07

My five year old has a snotty nose starting. She tends to feel rotten with colds. I feel like by tomorrow she will be unwell and need a days rest. I knew this would happen as her best friends been at school with one all week. He went swimming last night too with a streaming nose. It's impossible to keep them germ free

Lockdownseperation · 09/09/2020 08:10

Rules are clear self isolate and pray to the test Gods for a test if you have temperature of over 37.8c, COUGH or a loss of taste or smell.

You know what you need to do.

CloudSingsAloud · 09/09/2020 08:11

Let her stay home. She's 13, you don't need to stay with her. How pleasant is it going to be for her like that on first day. Plus she's more likely to pick up something else.

ftm202020 · 09/09/2020 08:13

I have been sending my children with a cold. If I keep them home everytime they are snotty they will never be in school.

AGoatAteIt · 09/09/2020 08:14

She has a rotten cold by the sounds of it and I’d keep her off for that in the current climate, poor thing.

I was sure a snotty nose was not a sign of Covid though, including children with Covid Confused