to worry this could be strep A?

[Stressymother]

Son is 13 and came down very suddenly on Friday with a sore throat and temperature.
Went to the GP after school who said not strep throat ( although wouldn’t do a swab ) and said viral
He’s been in bed the whole weekend and now has a terrible croup sounding barking cough that’s stopping him from sleeping

AIBU to think this could be strep throat after all and I need to demand a swab?

Strep doesn’t generally cause a cough.
make sure he’s drinking small amounts frequently regular paracetamol and if no improvement seek further medical advice

I also read that strep doesn’t usually cause a cough. Have you checked if glands are up or anything?

Did you test for Covid?

I’ve ordered LFTs on Friday but the quickest delivery was tomorrow
It sounds like a seal barking it’s dreadful

As you mentioned a seal barking I would say it's possibly croup. Call 111 for advice. Usually you don't need treatment but my son did need liquid steroids as his was quite bad.

I didn’t know you could even get croup at this age?

We have this. We're onto week 4. Both dc were given antibiotics as a precaution and they've done nothing so clearly viral. Still coughing, still viral. Dc 1 is now OK, dc2 still unwell and I've had it for 3 weeks. I've no idea what this virus is but it's lasting weeks and making us really unwell.

Sounds like covid tbh.

It's very very like covid. Lots of people seem to have it but nobody we know is testing positive including us.

Tbh it does just sound exactly like the flu that is going round. My son, same age has just had exactly what you've described, never took him to the doctor but he made a full recovery lol.

thank you - I’ve had flu many times and been barked like a seal!
it’s the oddest sounding cough I’ve ever heard

Any chance it's whooping cough?

There are videos on YouTube of the cough in infants and adults so you can hear what it sounds like

Sounds like RSV. That's been doing the rounds - my son had it. Very similar symptoms to covid, and all the symptoms you mention. Nothing you do though, just a form of a cold.

Gosh I never even gave whooping cough a thought as he’s vaccinated shit

He doesn’t have the “ whoop “ noise inbetween coughing

There are some awful viruses going round. If you are worried about him get him seen.

How is he now?
The cough does sound like coup which my daughter had many times before eventually growing out of it. A couple of times she did need steroids to help. On a cold night - like now - if you open a window and carry him near it so breaths in cool air , it can calm the cough (apparently it is common for kids to improve on the journey to a&e with croup as they get exposed to cold air!)
BUT I'd still air on side of caution and ring for advice. They can usually tell a croup cough 'over the phone' if you know what I mean.
I did also read in bbc news article that one of the strep a cases reported, the child did have a cough - BUT that is not listed as the common symptoms. There are just so many bugs at the mo. Hope he better soon .