Send her to school or not

[Echobeachsomeday]

My 5 year old dd has had a cough for the past 3 days, and has been off for the past 3 days. I have tested her for Covid and it came back negative. However her cough is still here and doesn't seem to be letting up. She coughs every minute or so.

She's still coughing now and has had a couple of disturbed nights sleep but is still happy and playing. I don't want to keep her off for an extended amount of time.Should I send her in tomorrow or let her rest at home and get better?
Thanks

See how she is over night and the morning.
If she's not sleeping overnight I would let her rest in the daytime.

Not to mention constant coughing will drive everyone else in the class insane.

Was it a PCR?
If yes I’d call the GP for advice. Coughing every minute or so after 3 days is concerning.

If she is coughing every minute she will quite likely be exhausted & unable to concentrate at school. I would definitely keep her off.

No, do not send her in. She’s coughing every minute or so and she’s having disturbed sleep. It’s one thing being at home playing but quite another being in school .

What sort of test? PCR, yes. LFT, no and book a pcr.

Did she have a PCR test or a lateral flow?

Saying that, she sounds like she might not actually be well enough to go to school.

This isn’t a ‘covid or not?’ question is it? It’s ‘is she well enough?’ it sounds like she probably isn’t.

It’s really tough atm, isn’t it? Our 14 month old grandchild has never been ill, at all, with anything, which is unnatural. Has their first cold now.

The past 18 months have been extraordinary in so many ways. One of them is how protected from the usual coughs, colds and other bugs that little ones would have (and need to have to develop immunities) picked up in more settled times.

I used to get pretty cross when mine were small if people sent poorly children in. I wouldn’t be cross now. Obviously, if they’ve a temperature, are vomiting or are really lacklustre, they ought to be at home: I don’t want to work when I feel like that. If it was just a cough and sniffles and they were in themselves pretty bright, I’d send them in now.
Continuing to protect children from any bug whatsoever really isn’t going to help them long-term.

Whatever you decide, hope she’s back to normal soon

If she's had a PCR and is well enough then yes.

If she hasn't had a PCR then no. Lateral flow isn't for symptoms (sorry if you have already know this and have done the PCR).

If she isn't well enough then no.

2 questions to ask yourself.

1. Was the test a PCR? If answer is no then get a PCR. If answer is yes proceed to step 2

1. In non covid times would you send her in coughing? If no then keep her off. If yes then send her in.

Keep her off.

If the rest of the class catches that cough from your daughter and they all have to isolate / test, you won’t be popular!!

Plus it sounds like she has a very nasty bug, covid or not she needs rest and plenty of hot fluids. At age 5 she’ll probably learn more at home anyway.

She doesn't sound well enough for a school day yet.

Snuggle duvet days if unwell during the night and lots of fluids.

Speaking as a Primary School Teacher where we are already on our knees due to an overwhelming amount of Covid cases (students & staff), please DO NOT send her into school & get her PCR tested as soon as possible. Regardless of her result, keep her home till she's well enough to be back. Coughing constantly isn't pleasant for her or those around her. To be honest, if you try sending her in with a persistent cough right how, the school may refuse to accept her or be on the phone, sending her home again by lunchtime!

My child’s school would rather not have them in if they are coughing a lot (if CV negative of course), for hygiene purposes. I wouldn’t send mine in if she was coughing as much as yours. You don’t want other students having to take time off for a cough if she passes it round.

My daughter was off with a cold (and cough - negative PCR) the second week of term. She now has another cold (and cough!) a week and a half later. It can’t be helped. We all have to play our part.

I appreciate it’s tough when they seem well enough to go in, despite having a cough.

If she’s had a pcr test and she seems well enough send her in.

If she seems very tired/very drained I wouldn’t.

Give her some calpol and send her to school to see how she is? My daughter is the same and as soon as she hits the school gates cough gone and she has this rainbow of energy.

If she's really tired and weak don't send her in.

I would keep her at home so you can keep an eye on her. Let her rest, watch TV etc and encourage her to drink and get enough fluids like weak squash. I always have a children’s cough syrup/mixture - usually a honey one. It’s not a big deal if she misses a few days or so of school at 5, more important to get her better x

Was it lateral flow or pcr test?

In non covid times I wouldn't put a child who wasn't sleeping and was affected by coughing that much in (if she was sleeping and in good form I might consider it but not if really persistent) . If covid taught me anything it was not to sweat young children being out of school, it's better for them and definitely better for the other kids. Hope she gets better soon

She doesn’t sound well enough to attend, even if it’s not covid. Don’t infect all the other kids with her nasty cough.

She's coughing every few minutes, no I'm pretty sure the whole rest of the class don't want to have to take their kids out for several days for covid tests and because they've caught it. She's not well, she needs to be at home.

Anyone with symptoms like her cough should have a PCR. You can make a decision once that comes back. Doesn't sound like she's well enough regardless though.

Should definitely be a PCR and not a LFT. The LFT means nothing when they have symptoms.

That said, I don’t think she sounds well enough for school, covid or not. I agree that a cough like that is exhausting.