Have I done the right thing - booking a covid test.

[jb2941]

So I have booked a test for my DS aged 10. He is very well and happy, eating well in himself but he's had a heavy cold for the last week. I know a cold in itself doesn't warrant a test.. but..

The cold has been strange. Not seen much actual snot but he's been suffering from severe congestion for the last 10 days. Again probably just a cold, more tired etc. No fever though! Well the first day I had one reading of 38 but it soon went down. 37.5 is his normal so 38 isn't overly high for him.

But since this Friday night he's been coughing. The cough itself isn't continuous as in it's happening all day long but he keeps randomly coughing here and there. It started off as a wet cough but now sounds more dry. Quite loud like a hacking cough.

Again, I'm sure this is just the tail end of a cold but I'm concerned as his cold has lasted 10 days which is unusual for him now the cough.

So yeah. Aibu to have booked a test?? Can't help think I'm wasting resources if it's just a cold. He's been off school all week with the cold!!

Also questions about the test. Says I need to take photo id for person taking the test. He does not have any Id? Do you need Id for a child?

Also I read somewhere you need to blow your nose. He cannot blow his nose but he's congested but there doesn't seem to be much snot in his nose.. sorry tmi. Should I be concerned?

When you book at test it asks do you have a fever, loss of smell/taste or a new continuous cough. Did you answer yes to one of those questions even though he doesn’t have any of those symptoms?

He has a new cough! It's not continuous as such as in not long spells of coughing at one time but he's coughing multiple times a day.

Unclear on what 3 coughing episodes a day mean. How long is a coughing episodes? He coughs a lot more than 3 times a day but the episodes don't last long. So confused.

If it's been 10 days then there's no point testing anyway. Has he been isolating?

Three coughing spells a day is a continuous cough! That's the definition. Ignore the previous poster. You did the right thing. How are you wasting tests? It doesn't even make sense. Tests are to determine whether you are sick or not.

I've had three.

I thought you needed to have a test in the first 5 days of symptoms, so I'm not sure a COVID test would pick it up at this point anyway. With DS I took his birth cert but they never asked. I would take some form of ID just in case if possible.

You've done it now so please don't worry op. It could very well be covid' especially as children often display milder symptoms. Let us know the outcome please!

I've had three.

Why???

YABU because you have to be tested in the first 5 days of symptoms for it to be effective.

No you have not done the right thing. We are running out of tests because people keep ordering them for children with colds!

Cough and cold often go together. He has been ill for ten days so it is pointless testing now anyway.

Why are people questioning how many tests people have had???

Cough only started this Friday. Cold started 10 days ago. So going on the cough it's only been 2 days since started..

Probably pointless if it’s 10 days on anyway?

The test only works in the first 5 days of Covid, the vast majority of people are well within 7 days.

It sounds like a bad cold which is normal for this time of year.

See the graphic below - his other symptoms are synonymous with a cold not Covid

Has he been to school during the cold or in Friday when he developed a cough? Will you be sending him this week?

Has he been isolating?

Questioning because there is a lack of testing slots etc available and people are constantly testing with they have a cold FFS

Seems like a waste to me.

Coughs follow colds.

You need ID for adults. When we went, my DD didn’t have to show ID as she doesn’t have any but we all took a test so we had to produce ID for us. Bring yours and any other adult who’ll be in the car with you just in case

He has been off school all week with a heavy cold. He hasn't been in school since the week before. There are children in his class with symptoms that are isolating (according to email) but their bubble hasn't been sent home.

He's had a heavy cold for 10 days. But the cough is new. He's coughing his guts up at times. I know it's probably just from the cold. But if send him in tomorrow with a hacking cough they will send him home.

He has autism. Getting a test and it hopefully being negative will mean he doesn't miss any time off school?

He's also been extremely tired - usually full of endless energy! Never know whether I'm doing the right thing or not.. 😭

I’ve just been saying on another thread as I’m in a similar predicament.

I’ve also booked a test and I think ultimately we have both done the right thing. If someone is coughing enough to refer to them as having a cough then that’s reason enough to test. I’ve just had the same argument () with my DP. DD had a cough that is more than likely the result of a cold but it’s persistent and noticeable. Why should any childcare setting or school put their trust in our self diagnosis when COVID can fairly easily be ruled out?

Had = has

@Florencex

No you have not done the right thing. We are running out of tests because people keep ordering them for children with colds!

Cough and cold often go together. He has been ill for ten days so it is pointless testing now anyway.

This.

@Florencex We're running out of tests because the government overlooked that children were returning to school and would have colds and symptoms which matched those for which we need to have a test. Apparently it was unforeseeable!

The government message is that if you have one of the three symptoms then you must have a test. If they mean, "only have a test if you've not had a cold recently" then they need to say so.