When to worry about a cough

[cookiesandcream27]

I have pretty bad health anxiety as it is but like lots of other people at the minute, I'm on high alert for any symptoms of covid. Over the past week I've developed a dry, tickly cough. I wouldn't call it persistent. I'm only coughing maybe once or twice an hour but it's enough for me to notice it. I'm not feeling unwell and don't have a temperature but I'm wondering what to do. I'm supposed to be going shopping today and can imagine the dodgy looks I'll get if I start coughing in Asda!

Sorry but a new cough means you shouldn't be going out at all

I have a cough too, but nothing else. Cough is also productive and phlegmy, I'm not concerned it's dodgy.

I think you need to get a delivery. Can you ask your local covid group for someone to help?

I forgot to say, it should be good news for health anxiety if you just have a cough. Either that means it's just hayfever-induced, or you've hopefully got a very mild case with no fever (can happen!).

It’s most likely hay fever but I agree that you need to follow the guidelines and stay at home.

Try some anti histamines and see if that helps.

I do suffer from hay fever and have been sneezing a bit too.

I'm sure it isn't covid as we are working from home and not seeing anyone. The only place I've been since the start of this is the supermarket but I suppose that's a hot spot for picking it up. I guess I will have to stay home and try to arrange something just to be safe.

I have a bit of a similar problem. Cause I occasionally get one of the symptoms but they can totally be explained by something else and those would be more likely.

I have a dry cough. I might cough maybe 10 times a day and it can easily last for a few months during the allergy season. I had a tickly throat a few days ago but I also sit next to an open window the whole day and it was a windy day. I've had some redness around my eyes but that is how my eczema flares up and then the next day it was all over my arms. And this happens to me regularly and has for years. All these are symptoms of covid19 and all are just things that happen to me regularly.

@Rezie yeah and then you have the quandary of whether to go out or not. My dp is high risk so I've been doing all the shopping. We are really low on stuff and I need to go today but now I'm thinking the responsible thing is to isolate since this is a new cough. I'm sure it's not covid but you just don't know and that uncertainty prevents you from doing what you need to

Take piriton. If it works you have your answer. I had the same thing. I prepared to self isolate in one room. Then I realized that I usually get hayfever so I took some piriton and the coughing ceased.