What exactly is a "new persistent cough"?

[sluj]

The definition of a persistent cough is one you have had for a while and won't go away. If that's the case, how can it be a "new" cough?
I'm expecting some confusion at work tomorrow about who should self isolate on this basis

Apparently so @tigerwhocametoT

Is it s continuous high temp or a one off? My youngest threw a one off high temp today he is also very snotty but this is the beginning of hayfever season he is normally like this WTF do I do

They do need to clarify. I would happily identify a persistent cough but to me continuous cough would mean one with very few breaks between coughing.

Luckily 10 year old DD has explained for me that it means if you can hold your breath for ten seconds without coughing, you don't have coronavirus. She was told by a girl in her class so it must be true....

But I've been doing the school run since Tuesday, chatted to few mums. What happens to them or my DDs classmates? she isn't showing any symptoms.

@tigerwhocametoT it doesn't matter what you've been doing - if you're infectious you're infectious so you need to not continue doing it.

If you can, contact them to say 'just so you know I'm self isolating based on the new advice'.

I think it's the difference betwee, say, my DH who still has the odd cough after having a really bad one in Dec/Jan (not new), and 'started coughing in the last week', and not 'the odd cough a few times in a day because your throat is dry' but fits of coughing that are impossible to hold back.

I've had a slightly weird sinus-y cold (no fever or cough) for last week, and even checked it out with 111 on the weekend and they reckoned just normal winter virus, but if I were to develop a dry cough or fever I would self isolate. As it is I'm working from home tomorrow as there's no reason for me to come in, so I might as well, and I'd already planned to on Monday.

New - newly onset, not a cough you've had for a week or two.
Continuous - annoyingly repetitve, not occasional and linked to phlegm but repeated and dry.

Two threads to explain what a new persistent cough is?? We're fucked.

Me and DS 2 have coughs, runny noses but I’m really confused as to what to do tomorrow?! I’m suppose to be at work/nursery but do I not go with the new advice?!

Isn’t it obvious? It’s the difference between “having a cough” and coughing a couple of times a day, as we all do.

So my 1 year old who has a snotty nose, slight loose bowels and has developed a cough (not phlegmy) about once an hour since yesterday should self isolate?

@GiveHerHellFromUs well it's good to have you on here to tell us that!

Usually, on these occasions, they say things like that to differentiate even from those who have chronic conditions "if it's not normal for you" etc. People need to be double told

I have a slight cold, I will not be self isolating, I need my wages

I had a flu and ear infection 5 weeks ago. Was at the gp for it. I've had the same cough since then. Coronavirus wasn't in the country at the time. Yesterday I was sent home from work and told to work from home until the cough is gone.

@amazinggrace16 is she only coughing once an hour? If so, don't worry. Snotty nose isn't a symptom either. A dry nose that feels really wet is (inside - not like a dog )

Glad it isn't just me that's confused. Had some 24 hour bug/cold thing that started last Thursday and from it i've got a cough. Doesn't really bother me through the day it's more on a night, with the new advice I don't know if i should have been self isolating or not?! Have had 3 month old DD all week and she appears to be fine!

I’ve just been diagnosed with ear infection yesterday, have high temperature and a cough but can’t see the point in SI as it’s an ear infection not Coronavirus. I work from home anyway so will try to stay away from people as much as possible but will be taking kids to clubs and trying to hide the cough 😷

I have had a cough for a week. No fever or other symptoms though.

I am not sure what I am meant to do but will stay out of the office Friday.

DD gets a mild temp and a cough if teething....its always obviously teeth as she goes to find her Sophie Giraffe.

Im hoping I'm ok to not SI in that situation but blimey its unclear

To the other posters that seem intent on belittling others and elevating their own self worth, please note that those that are asking questions are not dimwitted or stupid as you have suggested. They are people that want to get it right. They appreciate the seriousness of the situation and are merely asking for advice.

What is clear to one person, may not be to another. All language is open to interpretation and yes, whilst not everything can be explained with a micro-type approach; the lack of general reassurance and clarity of contingency planning causes people to question what they say.

I've had a niggling cough and chest discomfort for a good couple of months now! I know I've got something slightly chest related going on - I get it after a cold every winter.

DD's got a cough going on - but no fever and the cough is part of a really obvious bad cold. I'm in two minds over her going into school tomorrow and am going to see in the morning and liase with school if needs be.

I assume they mean more like the one I had when I had pneumonia. I've had random coughs before and since hit nine have been even vaguely like when I was ill with pneumonia. It was really frequent - coughing fits every few minutes - and it was a hard cough. It hurt. It racked my whole body. It left me unable to breathe.

It didn't take me long with this cough to know it was something different, something more serious than an annoying normal cough.

See when DD2 had pneumonia (very bad - ventilator level) she never really had a cough - she'd had a crappy cold and had never really bounced back and was just pale and lethargic and then suddenly started really struggling to breathe a few days after. No real symptoms other than that.

It is confusing. I have a cold. A cold like all the 100’s of colds I’ve had in the past... runny nose, slight sore throat and a cough. My 14 month old DS also has a nose which is dripping with snot and a cough. My 6 and 4 year olds both have the runny nose but no cough. None of us have a fever. We’ve all had it for about 3/4 days. Do we all need to isolate ourselves for the next 3/4 days? Or just me and the baby because we’re the ones coughing, even though we fairly obviously all have the same cold? Should DH stay at home because he’s spent the past 3/4 days with us all?