Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Should I still keep her off school?

8 replies

Lauren1983 · 06/12/2021 16:35

DD has been off since Tuesday with a cold. I suspected covid as her cough is so bad but her test came back negative.

Her cough is very persistent (I picked a random 5 minute spell today to count how many times she coughed and it was 8 separate coughing incidents in that time) but she is fine in herself although pretty rundown and now has a cold sore.

Part of me is concerned about having anymore time off school although this is her first period of absence since September 2020. 6 days already seems like so much just for a cold but the cough isn't getting better and I think the cough will be around at least a couple more days.

Am interested to what other parents would do. I'm a SAHM so not missing work so at least that is not a consideration.

OP posts:
worksleep · 06/12/2021 16:42

It's difficult isn't it. My daughter (in reception) was off for 3 days with a throat infection and then the following week 2 days with a cough. We did a PCR which was negative and she is fine in herself so she went back to school but cough has got slightly worse. I am also worried about more time off and ai work which makes things difficult. I hear coughs can linger for 3 days so have decided to let her go as long as she's well enough to participate but I'm not 100% comfortable. Sorry if this isn't helpful!!

worksleep · 06/12/2021 16:46

sorry I meant 3 weeks not days.

Original poster
Lauren1983 · 06/12/2021 17:00

Thank you for your reply worksleep. It is hard to know what to do for the best. I'm hoping school are doing xmassy stuff and she isn't missing much. It doesn't help that DD has extra one on one help as she is behind her peers so is missing that too.

OP posts:
happytoday73 · 06/12/2021 17:02

I'd do another pcr before sending her back in. Hopefully by that stage not spreading itm

JaninesEyePatch · 06/12/2021 17:11

I think you need to not worry about the time off school and think about whether she is genuinely well enough to go and sit in a classroom all day/play outside, and also will the cough be disruptive to the class?
Alternatively you could ask the school? Sometimes they will say to send her in and then they can decide if she needs sending home again. Or they might say please keep her home til she's fully better.

JaninesEyePatch · 06/12/2021 17:14

If it helps at all I once asked a nurse practitioner about what to do as my child had been ill for a similar length of time (didn't seem to be improving) and I felt pressure to send him back to school. She said she gets so frustrated with schools and their attendance policies as what most children really need when they are unwell is to rest at home.

Original poster
Lauren1983 · 06/12/2021 17:30

JaninesEyePatch - that's a good point about causing disruption to other children. DD is lucky to go more than 5 mins without coughing and they are quite loud coughs so would definitely disturb the other children a lot.

OP posts:
Bumblebee2930 · 07/12/2021 17:02

Most of the kids at my kids school has a non covid cough. A lot of them are hacking their guts up. If your daughter is feeling poorly or tired still keep her off, if not send her in. My daughter has been coughing for 2/3 weeks now and covid negative (although might actually get covid now Dp has it). Just can't shift if and she's been going to school, she would have to stay off otherwise). Schools don't seem to mind if they are fine in themselves and covid negative 💕

New posts on this thread. Refresh page