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..

Nadine Dorries mentioned the "distinctive Coronavirus cough" but I can't find a description anywhere.

@Minesabecks coughing maybe 3 times an hour in the late evenings and early mornings, then hardly at all (less that once an hour) for the rest of the day. Any thoughts?

Cohle - please do one.

Thank you @IsolationMum x

Another one wondering about a new cough that started yesterday. Coughing about every 10 minutes now through the day although not through the night last night once I got to sleep.

I'm due medication on Monday which is administered at the GP surgery. Presumably I'm going to have to postpone but it's going to leave me feeling a lot worse than this cough that I'd usually shrug off. Also wondering what it means for the kids given I'm breastfeeding the youngest still

Is that the times you have your heating on? Although if it was just a 'dry air' cough you'd probably always have it rather than it being a new thing for you.

@MordredsOrrery I'd say every 10 minutes is continuous, so isolate.

The advice from RCOG is to continue breast feeding.

I have a obstetrician appointment on Monday too . Will definitely call beforehand and explain my symptoms and they can decide what's best to do.

Badcat- I have the same, a cough that I would normally ignore and a tight chest. Coughing about once an hour, more when I’m moving about. Feel fine had a headache a few days ago and briefly a 37.7 temp (I realise this is not a fever but is above normal for me). DH and I decided this does meet the criteria - it’s new, it’s more than a one off and the guidelines say ‘however mild’. Feel like an absolute faker for missing work though and weirdly embarrassed.

I agree this can be confusing. This whole thing is a bit of a head fuck if you are ill for any reason like I am now. tbh as part of me feels That isolating if it’s not the real thing is just being a drama queen.

I’m ill but probably not coronavirus
I have an achy body, headache and glands up Since Thursday night no temperature so probably something totally different. But this morning multiple coughs with phlegm when moving around so was oh it is corona virus. Back in bed for last few hours no cough- sending me insane. I want to be up and around so if i get better and never have a temperature or continuous cough from now I’m not self isolating when I feel better.

The fact it came on Thursday also makes me think it’s partly in my mind.

Ahhh

Also confused about the cough.

DP started with a cough last night and it woke him during the night. He slept on the sofa from midnight - he says his chest feels tight and he's coughing on and off but not all the time. He has no temperature and says he feels ok. He's now in the bedroom and I'm in the living room (same floor).

If it is the virus, surely it would be worse? If it even is!

@BG2015 why are you confused about the cough?
Most cases will be mild.

BG2015 no, if it is coronavirus it would not necessarily be worse. Many people have no symptoms at all, the next largest group have very mild symptoms. Only a very small proportion of those infected will be so unwell they need hospital treatment.

Your DP has a new continuous cough. He doesn't need to have a temperature - it's cough OR temperature so he needs to self isolate for 7 days..

I think the thing to remember is that this is the stage where we accept many many more people will get it but we want to dealt the spread. We're so used to being told not to overreact, buck and get on with it that we are over-thinking. A new cough that isn't a one off? - self-isolate for no less than 7 days. A fever - self-isolate for no less than 7 days. As a PP said - don't go back once you feel normal, say after 2 days. Stay isolated for the full 7 days.

DH got advice on this via twitter by some one who had called 111 for clarity and they said within two weeks is what they mean by new and ' continuous' means you can't stifle the cough even if you try

I still can't fathom why anyone needs this explaining to them. What part of "continuous" and "cough" do you not understand?

@Dongdingdong - if it's so obvious why don't you tell me rather than being arsey about it?

Coughing 3ish times an hour late evening and early morning. Less that once an hour for the rest of the day. Continuous or not?

@Andcake I’m the same as you. Feeling rough had the odd bit of a cough which is unusually dry (for me) but no temperature

Continuous is continuous. It doesn't stop, no breaks. No hour gaps. Continuous. Every few minutes all day.

The virus wants to find as many hosts as possible. It makes you cough a LOT to help spread itself about.

The more people who can self isolate just in case, the better though.

@exhaustedpidgeon glad I’m not the only one. If my illnesses passes by Monday without significant coughing or temperature I’ll go back to work. I haven’t been out since yesterday so if I do cough or have a temp That can be self isolating ( what a dramatic indulgent self important phrase that sounds) annoying as I bet I’ll be up and around just as the uk goes into lock down and I’ll miss this last week of freedom

continuous: without a pause or interruption

This is why people are querying what “continuous” actually means in practice.

Well his cough isn't continuous then.

I'd say he coughs once every half hour or so. It sounds rough when he does.

I have a headache but I'm not sleeping well so presume it's that.

Could be continuous as in happens more than once so continues through the day

Or could be continuous as in it doesn’t stop it’s all day

@Andcake same will decide Sunday night if we need to isolate. I’m self employed and can easily work from home but it’s more deciding to keep the kids off. Hubby is only well one at the moment. We’ve cancelled our weekend plans which included an overnight stay and theme park 😢

@TimeMarchesOnNeverEnding if you do the 111 symptom checker it asks if your cough is "repeated" not continuous.
A cough every half hour/hour is still repeated.

Isolationmum, just done the symptom checker on 111 and I think repeated is a better word.

Just listened to him cough twice in 10 minutes. I reckon he's got it.

I just went onto 111 symptom checker and it told me to ring and speak to a nurse. Won’t be doing that as don’t want to overload them and currently doing ok resting.

@IsolationMum

I think that “repeatedly” definition has been added since yesterday.