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Original poster

what would you consider a continuous/persistent cough

27 replies

Di11y · 17/03/2020 22:05

The NHS 'clarifies' as repeated which is no help.

My 6 yo has had a less than hourly cough for 3 days. No temp and not bothering her at night.

Was sent home early and I assumed new cough = off for 14 days (with 2yo and supposedly WFH) but guidance clear as mud

so quarantine for 14 days = YANBU
overreacting send her in = YABU

OP posts:
BrieAndChilli · 17/03/2020 22:07

I don’t know I can’t find any clarification anywhere!
DD has a cough but as in coughs for a couple of seconds maybe 3 or 4 times an hour at the most. Is that persistent? Or does she need to be coughing every 5 min?

tempnamechange98765 · 17/03/2020 22:09

Argh following as in the same boat with DS age 4. His is quite bad at night and first thing but it doesn't seem often at all in the day, he was in nursery all today yesterday and pre school this morning, and hasn't been sent home or had anyone mention it. But I don't know if I should now isolate him...

Original poster
Di11y · 17/03/2020 22:09

exactly why I've ended up on MN! probably err on side of caution. don't want to feel guilty if it gets worse or school get cross but grrr! her dad's had one for several weeks

OP posts:
Karwomannghia · 17/03/2020 22:10

It’s highly likely it’s not it but I think in the current state when everyone is asked to stay at home as much as possible and she’s been sent home by the nursery, they won’t be expecting her back. Lots of parents are keeping kids off anyway now.

Justgivemethehobnobs · 17/03/2020 22:10

@BrieAndChilli yes that's persistent, please stay at home.

kopbop · 17/03/2020 22:11

Less than hourly?! I clear my throat more than that, surely that's fine.

Pinkarsedfly · 17/03/2020 22:12

A cough that lasts more than four hours, according to NHS guidelines.

Original poster
Di11y · 17/03/2020 22:13

well I got enough food for 2 weeks in as soon as I got the news and have planned a rota so DH and I can both try to WFH (it's a joke, desk either in lounge on dining table or DD's bedroom and we have a 2yo too)

OP posts:
Original poster
Di11y · 17/03/2020 22:13

pinkarsedfly, linky pls!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Di11y · 17/03/2020 22:17

kopbop except she's not clearing her throat. it's definitely coughing. plus since it's been since Mon I don't know what she's actually like during the day.

OP posts:
ghostyslovesheets · 17/03/2020 22:18

a cough which is continuous + persistent - IE goes on and on and doesn't stop and doesn't ease up over time

Isn't it also dry?

Musicaltheatremum · 17/03/2020 22:18

I'm a GP and even I'm not sure. I would think several times an hour. I have a cold and occasional cough but no temperature. Still working though as I don't fulfill the criteria to isolate and we are so busy

innuendobingo · 17/03/2020 22:18

It's for more than 4 hours. That's NHS advice at work in a major hospital right now.

mejon · 17/03/2020 22:25

I've been wondering too. DD13 has been coughing intermittently since Friday night. Nothing else just a cough and is feeling absolutely fine (and eating plenty!). I've kept her home from school though - as I just couldn't get clarification about whether it was classed as continuous. The rest of us - DH, myself and DD9 have carried on as normal but I wonder if we should all be isolating for 14 days. I'm asthmatic and would have expected to have 'got it' from her if it was CV?

boomboom1234 · 17/03/2020 22:25

Stay at home and get better. No one wants to catch any bugs at the moment. I can't believe how many people on here tonight don't seem to get it. Keep poorly people
Home. It's not just about covid 19 we need to all do our bit to stop any bugs spreading so we don't need to waste nhs resources.

Original poster
Di11y · 17/03/2020 22:28

right. her less than hourly coughing has been going on more than 4 hours. for the sake of the teachers that's us off for 2 weeks. just not gonna chance it and school might not even be running by next week.

OP posts:
Changeofname79 · 17/03/2020 23:04

@mejon the guidance is if any of the household has symptoms then you all self isolate for 14 days as that means you can tell if anyone has got it before any of you mix with others again. That was announced tea time yesterday. I would imagine that is classed as continuous as it's been since Friday.

If you are asthmatic are you not supposed to be self isolating anyway?

help1653 · 17/03/2020 23:09

We had this this morning, DS and I woke up with a cough. DS's was initially really bad but then went after about 2 hours, but mine has got worse over the day.

I actually get a cough and sore throat every time I get a cold - it just seems to be how seasonal viruses affect me. However I won't be risking it so we are all at home for 14 days.

Stompythedinosaur · 17/03/2020 23:22

That's the right decision. If the cough has continued over a 3 day period it is certainly persistent.

GoatyGoatyMingeMinge · 18/03/2020 02:34

Continuous means without a pause or interruption. If there are times when she's not coughing then it's not continuous.

solarisbabe · 18/03/2020 03:04

Are asthmatics supposed to self isolate ? What about people in the same house ?

TiggerOfThigh · 18/03/2020 03:09

@GoatyGoatyMingeMinge that’s exactly what the 111 clinician described it to me as. Going an hour or two without stopping

PotholeParadise · 18/03/2020 03:40

Continuous means without a pause or interruption. If there are times when she's not coughing then it's not continuous.

Well, by those criteria, no-one outside hospital has coronavirus, and we know it is possible to have it mildly.

I had bronchitis once, and coughed so much that it kept the neighbours awake, and there were still times when I wasn't coughing!

CecilyP · 18/03/2020 07:24

My understanding of a persistent cough is one where once it starts you can’t stop. I think most of us have been there when we have had a cold or flu. It also may stop for periods of time. What it is not is an occasional cough that persists for a few days. It would be very helpful if the official guidance was a bit clearer.

If your DD is unwell, keep her home. Or you can choose to keep her home anyway if you want. However, what you describe does not put you in the category where you have to self isolate.

CatEatCatWorld · 18/03/2020 07:29

Dp has come down with a cough, which I'm pretty sure is just a cough, but keeping kids off anyhow. But what if one of us then gets corona in a few weeks, another 2 weeks isolation? This could go on for months!