Definition of "continuous cough"

[BadCatDirtyCat]

Does anyone have a link for an official definition? I've coughed a few times this morning and last night but finding it really hard to figure out if I'm being paranoid or not (mainly cough when I start to think about coughing ). A definition of "X coughs an hour" or whatever would be really helpful..

[BadCatDirtyCat]

N.b. I'm not going out anyway and neither is DP, but don't know if I should isolate myself in a room, especially as DP has underlying conditions

[lubeybooby]

speaks for itself surely? continuously coughing as opposed to clearing your throat now and then kind of cough

[NaturalBornWoman]

For heavens sake, how many people making a fuss about this. You know when you've got a cough! Have you got a cough? If so stay in!

[TemporaryName123]

@BadCatDirtyCat I completely understand your question as I wonder the same. People like @lubeybooby who make us feel silly for seeking clarification to ensure we are taking correct approach are not helpful. At all.

[JJPC]

I’d say a cough that happens throughout the day

[LowcaAndroidow]

Do you have a cough?

If it's an occasional cough to clear your throat, or you had a coughing fit because you inhaled some water, or you always cough in the mornings because you are a smoker - then it's not "a cough".

If you're coughing throughout the day, then you have " a cough".

[letsjog]

Sorry to jump in on this but is it supposed to be a wet cough/dry cough or could it be anything?

[Everytimeref]

I started coughing last night after laughing at something on telly. Didn't wake up during the night to cough but now coughing semi regularly. Still not sure if this is "it" or not.

[BadCatDirtyCat]

@letsjog typically it's supposed to be a dry cough, but then around 15% of people get phlegmy too so 🤷

To those being scathing - just wait until you have a very mild cough. You'll see how difficult it is to judge it.

I coughed about 5 times late last night, then this morning maybe 4 times (been up since half 7). I can feel it in my chest when I cough so more than just clearing my throat.. heading to my room now

[JJPC]

I think the world continuous has caused more issues to be honest. If he’d said stay home if you have a cough, which is actually what he meant, people wouldn’t be so confused. Instead he’s treated us like idiots who don’t know how to distinguish between a one of cough because something went down the wrong way or a cough that’s due to a viral infection.

[TemoraryUsername]

For heavens sake, how many people making a fuss about this. You know when you've got a cough! Have you got a cough? If so stay in!

Thanks for the unhelpful comment and to everybody else saying similar things on other things on mumsnet.

People are making a fuss of this" because it's not as black or white as it sounds, as to whether you have a continuous cough or not.

I'm another who is confused by the wording in relation to my own cough. I only cough first thing in the morning, that doesn't seem "continuous" to me.

Nevertheless I'm isolating, because I have cough that isn't normal for me, although I wouldn't define it as continuous. I figure it is most likely a cold, but nobody wants to catch a cold at the moment!

[IsolationMum]

NHS asks:
"Do you have either:
a high temperature - you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
a new continuous cough - this means you've started coughing repeatedly"

Nothing about it being wet/dry.

[NaturalBornWoman]

I think that people are making more than was meant by "continuous". People cough for various reasons not actually to do with infections, or having "a cough". It sounds odd that a cold would only cause a cough in the morning but the CMO actually said respiratory symptoms, so if you have them you're meant to stay in. I think that people do know when they have "a cough" and it's disingenuous to claim confusion due to semantics.

[BadCatDirtyCat]

Obviously I haven't coughed at all in the hour I've been in my room. Gah!

[DitheringDoris]

I often have a cough due to allergies/asthma but when I have a cough from a virus it’s very different and I can easily tell the difference. If you don’t have asthma Or any other issues and are coughing several times an hour you have a cough.

[Fartintheloft]

I’m pondering this too! Starting last night, coughed several times. Nothing over night and now coughing a little bit a few/several times an hour. But not over and over again, where it’s unstoppable??

Continuous? Or not continuous?
It is dry and I feel like my chest isn’t right at all.

I suppose as awful as it is (I’m already worrying because of disability and low immune system), we will all find out if it develops. It’s just that you don’t want to infect others in the house etc. It’s when to self isolate.

[Oxyiz]

They probably didn't want people who coughed after swallowing water the wrong way or something like that to panic and call in sick. I'd say if you have a cough, as in, you don't know why and it keeps happening, then that counts.

[BadCatDirtyCat]

@DitheringDoris I think that's the most helpful definition I've seen, thank you.

I'm going to keep properly isolated for the rest of the day but if it's fewer than once an hour from now on I might re-think tomorrow..

[BertiesLanding]

@BadCatDirtyCat - And if you're feeling it in your chest, even more reason to take precautions.

[Minesabecks]

But regarding isolation, once you have the cough or the high temperature, you're supposed to do it for 7 days, right? Not just until either the cough or the high temp goes away. So you might have two days of symptoms and 5 of none, while in self isolation. I think this is what you are supposed to do. How many will?

[IsolationMum]

@Fartintheloft yes you have a new, repeated cough so you need to self isolate. Hope you feel better soon.

[BadCatDirtyCat]

Berrieslanding, minesabecks - yeah, maybe you're right.. it's just a question of whether I have ever had an actual "continuous cough". Good point about feeling it in the chest though.

[Exhaustedpidgeon]

This is what I’m struggling with. I have an on off new cough. It’s happened several times in the last few days. But it’s not all the time. Feeling but rough now too

[Minesabecks]

Do you mean you have coughed literally several times in a few days, or had several episodes of coughing?

[Cohle]

God people are being stupidly pedantic about this. Does no one have basic common sense anymore?