Do we now have to self isolate with cold symptoms?

[Coconut49]

DH has a cold and slight cough. I thought I’d get him a lateral flow test just to double check not Covid despite no other symptoms and seems just like a cold (runny nose etc.). Went to pharmacy to get LF test - told assistant scenario and she nearly had an apoplectic fit. Apparently DH would be classed as symptomatic and we should all be isolating and get PCR test. She shouted at me saying ‘you should not even be here, you should be isolating!’. I tried to explain DH was just trying to ‘do the right thing’ and double check. But she was having none of it and banished me from the pharmacy. AIBU to think the assistant was over-reacting? Do we have to self-isolate for cold symptoms now? In the end I got some tests from a different pharmacy and DH tested negative. TBH I don’t think I will bother in the future after that reaction as we have had both vaccines now.

So the person had a mild cough.
If I have a couple of coughs now to clear my throat, then in 6 hours do it again and then 6 hours later do the same. I would class that as a mild cough. But that fits the bill for 3 coughing episodes in 24 hours so I would get tested. Does that sound reasonable? If I only coughed once or twice a day I'd say it's fine but I wouldn't even class that as a mild cough, that's just normal life. Does that sound reasonable? Or am I misunderstanding?

The issue is the cough.

Once there is a new cough - and tbh many people with a 'slight cough' under estimate how much they are coughing in my experience - he should isolate and take a PCR test. At the moment these are usually possible to get same day - often within 2 or 3 hours, and results are generally coming back the next day, often less than 24 hours later.

My 'covid cough' was slight. Infact it wasn't really a proper cough at all. I expected it to be like when I had pneumonia but it wasn't at all. It was more like needing to clear my throat.

It's not a continuous cough - it's a persistent cough. One that isn't just one or two coughs a day. It's persistent in that you need to cough more than normal. I think it was defined as three bouts of coughing in 24 hours.

Most people who think they have a slight cough are coughing more than they think.

Covid was obviously in your mind as you wanted an LFT.
If you triply didn't consider covid then why bother with an LFT if you aren't normally doing them twice weekly anyway.

Fwiw, I most likely caught covid from a child 'with a bit of a cold' - it put me in hospital.

Aren’t there loads of test centres these days where you can just drop in? I think the assistant was OTT as it wasn’t you that had symptoms, but equally there are test centres where people are dressed for the occasion so to speak, so then then no one can say anything to you you

I think your mistake might have been telling the assistant about your husband's symptoms. You weren't obliged to do so. It's a bit confusing if someone comes into the pharmacy and asks for a lateral flow test, then tells the pharmacist that the person it is for has a particular symptom - although it isn't really a symptom. The assistant assumed your DH's cough must be bad enough for you to 'double check', so she a) thought a lateral flow was the wrong test, and b) thought you should arrange a PCR test. It does sound as though she overreacted, but who knows how many people have come into the pharmacy when they shouldn't have? Maybe she was just fed up with people!

OP - You’d be surprised at how many people have tested positive, thinking their cough was not continuous, in fact, they’d nearly noticed their cough at all.

I expect we’ll only hear if he gets a negative result. If he’s positive this will all be a bit embarrassing for you.

Fingers crossed it’s not covid anyway x

Bearly*

Just to add this in here. A child in my child's class has just tested positive. They had a slightly raised temperature. We now have to isolate, 60 kids and 10 school staff over half term. We already isolated over October half term as a child was sent in with symptoms and then caught covid ourselves over Christmas. I know it's annoying to get a test for a minor symptom but it could be covid and can have a massive impact on many other people.

As my kids have had colds for over a month now between them I certainly hope not - as it's not happening.

If he has covid symptoms he needs a PCR.

If he doesn't have covid symptoms he can do a LFT.

It is not "the responsible thing to do" to make up your own criteria and then try to explain to the pharmacist you want to do a LFT because he has some cold symptoms, giving the impression you are doing the test because you have concerns/a reason to do it.

You don't understand why a LFT test and why they are done.

@Coconut49

Well just woken up and read all of the responses. Thank you - very interesting. I would just like to point out that of course I know that a CONTINUOUS cough is a symptom of Covid. He hasn’t got a continuous cough. Or a fever or loss of taste or smell. Hence does not qualify for PCR test but I thought it would be a responsible thing to do to get a lateral flow test as the government are encouraging everyone to test regularly anyway. He has had two vaccines so the likelihood of having Covid are very low - there is also now evidence that transmission in fully vaccinated people is very low. For those who want my DH to get a PCR test - do you want him to lie about symptoms? Sneezing and runny nose and infrequent cough are not on the list!!

If he’s coughing less than three times a day then that isn’t even an “infrequent cough”. Most people wouldn’t even notice they had a cough or describe it as “a cough” if they only coughed once or twice a day

Once you’re at the point of describing yourself as “having a cough” (whether it’s mild/infrequent/wet/dry/nasal) then you qualify for a test.

@halftermagain

Just to add this in here. A child in my child's class has just tested positive. They had a slightly raised temperature. We now have to isolate, 60 kids and 10 school staff over half term. We already isolated over October half term as a child was sent in with symptoms and then caught covid ourselves over Christmas. I know it's annoying to get a test for a minor symptom but it could be covid and can have a massive impact on many other people.

That seems extreme. That’s not how they do it in my 2 children’s school...

No. my DS is coughing/sneezing and runny nose with hayfever. Carrying on as normal

Thanks for all the responses. I don’t post on Mumsnet much - didn’t expect volume of replies. LFT was negative - he’s just gone for a PCR test to double check you will be pleased to know. Will post results when received.

A teacher at dd’s school had a bit of a cold. Turned out to be covid, so no one allowed at school with a cold unless cleared test.

I think you have learned your lesson though. Do not mention even a hint of a cough if you don’t want people to freak out.

@TableFlowerss

It's common practice to close a bubble with a positive case when there's been close contact. If your child's school isn't doing that then they are doing it wrong.

That seems extreme. That’s not how they do it in my 2 children’s school...

It depends on the school set up and how much classes and staff can be separated.

It’s because he has a cough. It’s frustrating because most people with a cold will have a slight cough and the people I know who have had symptomatic covid said the symptoms were nothing like a cold at all (the cough was constant so not the odd one here and there and they generally felt very run down, exhausted, hot and sweaty etc and none had a runny nose). You do need a PCR test unfortunately and are supposed to isolate until the results come back.

@Acupofcamus

It’s because he has a cough. It’s frustrating because most people with a cold will have a slight cough and the people I know who have had symptomatic covid said the symptoms were nothing like a cold at all (the cough was constant so not the odd one here and there and they generally felt very run down, exhausted, hot and sweaty etc and none had a runny nose). You do need a PCR test unfortunately and are supposed to isolate until the results come back.

Whereas everyone I know who had mild covid described it as exactly the same as cold symptoms - runny noses, mild coughs here and there.

@Abraxan

That seems extreme. That’s not how they do it in my 2 children’s school...

It depends on the school set up and how much classes and staff can be separated.

It's very young children with staff that mix across both classes.

I had a cold all last week. No fever, bit of a cough but only occasionally. Lots of snot and sneezing. DS the same and from the class WA group plenty of the children similar. Nobody tested afaik, school weren't bothered in any way. It was a cold going round. Everyone was happy with that.

Thank goodness all of my team in school have been vaccinated. Everyone's given up. I understand why, as I feel huge fatigue with it myself, but still.

My covid symptoms were like that of a cold, bunged up nose, sneezing and a very slight infrequent cough. Would have thought it was a cold had I not have known otherwise

Just watched the latest podcast from Prof TIm Spector.
If you are vaccinated get a test if you are sneezing a lot was his advice.
IME the Covid cough once vaccinated is an infrequent throat clearing type cough.
I’m afraid if you have a cold then yes you need a test! Especially if you are a child or a vaccinated adult.