Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Has anyone had covid that felt like a cold?

49 replies

StepintoChristmas29 · 15/12/2020 07:21

Ds 10 started being a bit snotty on Sunday kinky. Absolutely fine in himself and went to school yesterday. No fever whatsoever or cough until this morning.

He slept soundly all night - thank god but has woke up (around 6am) with a wet cough). It doesn’t seem continuous as such but my instincts are telling me to book a test (no 2 for him since September). Fingers crossed it’ll be negative.

But has anyone experience covid and it felt like W cold? Worried that his symptoms are indeed covid and not the cold I expected.

I know I’m jumping to the worse case scenario now.

Also, how long are reaults taking now? Last time it was 4 bloody days and negative!

OP posts:
Original poster
StepintoChristmas29 · 15/12/2020 07:21

Night not kinky 😫😫

OP posts:
Original poster
StepintoChristmas29 · 15/12/2020 07:22

Also, how much does snot affect a test? He’s 10 and cannot blow his nose (he has additional needs)

OP posts:
Fluffybutter · 15/12/2020 07:41

It sounds like a cold and the cough is from his runny nose and post nasal drip,probably.
Get a test if you really want to but it doesn’t sound like covid to me .

magnarocks · 15/12/2020 07:44

I tested positive for Covid nearly a month ago and my first symptoms were a snotty nose and feeling congested (plus sneezing more), I then lost my sense of smell within a day or two.

If he has a cough, he needs a test performing. There is no distinctive 'Covid cough', mine sounded and felt like any other cough.

hula008 · 15/12/2020 07:46

Yes the dry cough is the most prevalent but about 30% of those with symptoms experience a wet cough. If it's a "cough" (3 episodes of coughing in a day) then he needs to isolate and have a test.

Mummadeeze · 15/12/2020 07:46

I had flu aches and pains but no runny nose. I think it varies a lot.

magnarocks · 15/12/2020 07:46

With regards to the test and snot, please don't worry about it. As long as you try and give his nose a blow of any excess, that's the best you can do.

I have a 3yo who doesn't know how to blow his nose (with or without help) and he's had three successful tests performed. And think of the many babies and small children who can't blow their noses too. Good luck for the test and hope you get results back ASAP. Thanks

Mendeleyev · 15/12/2020 07:48

DD1 (17) came down with a bad cold. No snot but very blocked and feeling sorry for herself. Recovered after 2 days just in time for me to get it. I got ill on the Wednesday and it was Saturday before I got the loss of smell and taste. Got a test and was positive. So DD probably had it. My test Saturday came back in 22 hrs. Sent the rest of the household to get tested Monday (DH has metallic taste) but they were told 3-5 days turnaround for tests. DD was asked by college to get tested although it’s unlikely to turn out to be positive by this point.

AlsDiner · 15/12/2020 07:48

I've known 7 people with covid who all started with typical cold symptoms. If you put that into the covid symptom checker though it tells you not to have a test.

hula008 · 15/12/2020 07:49

If he can tolerate the pharyngeal swab that would be ideal, as mucus can affect the tests. Otherwise you may all have to isolate for 10 days, whether or not it is Covid. Disclaimer: I don't perform Covid tests but I do work in a hospital supporting people with a learning disability, some of whom who have had Covid tests and can't tolerate the nasal/pharyngeal swab.

Imapotato · 15/12/2020 07:50

I would get him tested if he’s coughing. It’s most likely just a cold, but if a cough has developed quite quickly it’s definitely better to be safe than sorry.

thebakeoffwasntasgoodthisyear · 15/12/2020 07:51

About 40% of children with Covid also present with a snotty nose (according to my microbiologist friend). I’d book a test. The guidelines are clear that a new persistent cough (and/or fever, ani’s is or loss of taste) = potential Covid. There is no scope in the guidance for the public to make a clinical decision as to whether the new cough might just be a cold. I hope your son is ok.

thebakeoffwasntasgoodthisyear · 15/12/2020 07:51

*anosmia

Original poster
StepintoChristmas29 · 15/12/2020 07:52

@hula008 he had a test in September and could
only tolerate the nose swab, not the throat 😫 he hasn’t got a runny nose just very congested and sneezing!

OP posts:
OrangeGinLemonFanta · 15/12/2020 07:52

My Covid was just a scratchy throat and the very, very mildest tickly cough. We're talking the odd throat clear. I wouldn't have even noticed it or got a test except that DH had it. Sense of smell went about three days after my positive result.

Todayisgood2 · 15/12/2020 07:56

Yes quite common for children to just have a cold. 4 in my class all positive. Definitely book a test. In our area they're under 24 hours results.

Original poster
StepintoChristmas29 · 15/12/2020 07:56

Thanks all. I am intending to book a test! Just wanted some input first 😃 I’d rather know now especially leading up to Christmas. Plus his 1:1 ta is a little older (not old but older and her husband is older than her). I couldn’t life with it if I thought he passed on potential covid!

OP posts:
Original poster
StepintoChristmas29 · 15/12/2020 07:58

What date do you put for the symptoms starting? For when his cold symptoms
Started or from this morning when the cough started? He actually coughed a few times last night before bed but slept soundly all night!

OP posts:
hula008 · 15/12/2020 08:01

Okay

  • try and catch him after he's sneezed, ask him to wipe his nose by pushing down either side of the nose, expelling mucus from the nostrils
  • try in the evening as sometimes noses can clear up later in the day
  • if he can breathe out of one nostril, use that one

These might not work, and you might have tried them before, but they are things I've tried with other people :)

magnarocks · 15/12/2020 08:02

@StepintoChristmas29
I'd say put from when he first started coughing as that's the 'reportable symptom'.

Northernsoullover · 15/12/2020 08:06

@Fluffybutter

It sounds like a cold and the cough is from his runny nose and post nasal drip,probably. Get a test if you really want to but it doesn’t sound like covid to me .
Who made you an expert? I have worked collating covid symptoms. An alarming amount of people carry on living their lives with 'just a cold' for it to turn out to be covid.
magnarocks · 15/12/2020 08:21

Thanks for saying what everyone else was thinking @Northernsoullover Xmas Wink

Original poster
StepintoChristmas29 · 15/12/2020 08:21

Thank you for the advice @hula008. Test booked, need to ring the school! 😫 my other child is devastated to be missing school last week of term!

OP posts:
Freetodowhatiwant · 15/12/2020 08:28

My kids have had colds this week, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing and a slight cough but it specifically says on the NHS website to only go if you have more Covid related symptoms. I took them for a test last time this happened and it was negative but we had to spend three days off school waiting for the result. Whilst I really don’t want us to have and be spreading the virus I don’t want to waste NHS resources again and we don’t tick the boxes as to have a test. It’s difficult to know what to do.

Original poster
StepintoChristmas29 · 15/12/2020 08:31

@Freetodowhatiwant difficult isn’t it. My son has no fever or lack of smell of taste just this cough. The cough isn’t persistent as such but he’s coughed all morning but it has eased now (I guess coughs are always first thing). The cough does sound wet, not dry but I know with DS he usually
Does end up with a dry cough a few days into a cold! So best to get him tested here!

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread