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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To be tested for Coronavirus

35 replies

myhandsareverycold · 02/03/2020 19:40

I have all the symptoms of a rotten cold. Started on Friday with a very sore throat. Yesterday nose started steaming. I'm feeling hot and cold. Hacking cough. Went to work today but felt pretty rotten.

I've not been in touch with anyone that I know of that's been abroad.

Am I being selfish assuming it's just a regular cold or should I have been tested?

Three members of my family have already had this 'cold' so the chances are it's just a cold. However, it got me thinking, how do we know the difference and are we being unreasonable if we don't have common cold symptoms tested in case it's something more sinister?

OP posts:
KisforKoala · 02/03/2020 19:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rhayader · 02/03/2020 19:43

Runny nose is not a coronavirus symptom. You have a cold. Also the coronavirus cough is a dry cough.

RedRed9 · 02/03/2020 19:45

Will they even test you? What’s the criteria for testing?

Waxonwaxoff0 · 02/03/2020 19:47

They wouldn't test you anyway. They're not testing everyone who has symptoms.

Punkatheart · 02/03/2020 19:48

Cold. Don't waste people's time. Symptom are dry cough and fever. Not a runny nose.

Monkeynuts18 · 02/03/2020 19:49

Here are the symptoms (one of the top articles on BBC News)

What is coronavirus and what are the symptoms?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51048366

Runny nose is not one of them.

GinDaddy · 02/03/2020 19:49

Why do you feel you should have been tested @myhandsareverycold - why?

Kirkman · 02/03/2020 19:50

Last week I had a headache, ached everywhere, fever...ended up with chest infection and had to go to hospital because I couldnt breathe.

I wasnt tested for it because I havent left the country or had contact with anyone who has been in infected areas.

They dont just test you because you think, you might have it cause you have a cold.

FudgeBrownie2019 · 02/03/2020 19:50

You'll be wasting the time and resources of people who are better off testing those at risk.

You have a cold.

Original poster
myhandsareverycold · 02/03/2020 19:53

Thank you all! The last thing I wanted to do was waste valuable NHS resources but equally would feel bloody awful if I had been irresponsible but not getting tested.

You've put my mind at rest. Thanks everyone.

OP posts:
faracrossthepond · 02/03/2020 19:58

Oh FFS! Hmm

MNHQ
LilyMumsnet · 02/03/2020 20:08

Hi all,

We're just moving this over to the new topic. Flowers

Original poster
myhandsareverycold · 02/03/2020 20:10

@faracrossthepond

What do you mean by that?!

OP posts:
coconuttelegraph · 02/03/2020 20:16

I'm guessing it means, in the nicest possible way, don't be so ridiculous, you have a cold, zero risk factors for CV, why would you think you need to be tested?

Happy to be corrected though

Original poster
myhandsareverycold · 02/03/2020 20:30

Yes I think so. However I had no idea that runny nose was not a symptom, especially after reading that tissues should be used and binned. Happy to stand corrected and if some people think I'm mad even posting this then so be it. I'd hate to spread it round all my clients! Better to ask what some believe to be a dumb question rather than risk infecting lots of people.

OP posts:
MMN123 · 02/03/2020 20:42

I’m also unclear why people think a runny nose isn’t a symptom.

In the absence of other symptoms (fever or cough etc) then more likely just a cold. But having a runny nose doesn’t mean it’s not Coronavirus.

Hacking cough, feeling hot and cold and generally feeling dreadful - I’d give 111 a call personally. Most likely lots of cases are flying under the radar.

Kirkman · 02/03/2020 21:08

Hacking cough, feeling hot and cold and generally feeling dreadful - I’d give 111 a call personally. Most likely lots of cases are flying under the radar.

I had all the above. They dont test unless theres reason to believe you have had contact with someone who has it.

It doesnt come with a runny nose. That's not a symptom. That's just how it is. 8 am sure there is a scientific reason. But the it just doesnt act that way

Op has had no contact with anyone who is confirmed to have it. Therefore its far more likely, like it was in my case, to not be corona.

MMN123 · 02/03/2020 21:41

I agree more likely not to be.

But where are people getting the idea that a runny nose isn’t a symptom? They don’t want everyone flapping about for every sniffle so are saying only call 111 if you have fever, cough or shortness of breath as well as other minor symptoms but I’m not understanding why people are thinking a runny nose is indicative that you don’t have coronavirus. It is one of the (many) possible symptoms as far as I know. Just that in the absence of the three specifically mentioned they advise not to call 111. But op possibly has two of them.

No idea why you weren’t tested - can’t comment on that - but given there has been at least one reported case of what currently appears to be an asymptomatic carrier (who never became ill) infecting 4-5 members of their family, lack of direct contact with someone who travelled to risky places or is ill doesn’t mean much.

I’d decide whether to call 111 based on whether the cough/cold symptoms plus fever feel significantly worst than a typical winter cold.

xine15 · 02/03/2020 21:46

Isn't runny nose not a symptom as it's a lower respiratory virus not an upper. Positive testing people don't seem to be presenting with a runny nose.

That said I don't see why you couldn't have corona and a common cold, they are common (!) enough at this time of year so maybe in some people the symptoms are there for both! (This is conjecture, I have no medical expertise)

MMN123 · 02/03/2020 21:57

Ah the power of wiki!

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronavirus_disease_2019

Runny nose, sore throat and sneezing can all be symptoms, but they are not common symptoms. And diarrhoea!

Original poster
myhandsareverycold · 02/03/2020 22:10

I've had all of them plus the squits and it feels like the worse cold I can ever remember. Certainly not flu but an absolute stinker non the less. I'm not worried about me as I'm fit and healthy my point in the post was to be responsible and not spread it.

As others have said it's very unlikely as to my knowledge I've not been in close contact with anyone returning from a known infected country.

I suppose my question was more about being responsible but in the same breath not over-stretching the NHS for nothing. This virus is unknown. How cautious should we be? I'm no snowflake but I certainly don't want to be a super spreader either. I'm in and out of schools, homes and offices all day.

OP posts:
Original poster
myhandsareverycold · 02/03/2020 22:11

and I get a flu injection every year!

OP posts:
MMN123 · 02/03/2020 22:23

I think on the balance of probability others on the thread are most likely correct and it’s just a bad cold.

MMN123 · 02/03/2020 22:25

Good to know runny nose etc are uncommon!

Sharkyfan · 02/03/2020 22:28

Agree that in your case it sounds like a cold, but...

They dont test unless theres reason to believe you have had contact with someone who has it.

I don’t get this (although sort of see it would be impractical to do otherwise) because what about the guy from Haslemere who hadn’t been abroad or knowingly been in contact with anyone who had?