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Covid

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Original poster

Child has cold - do we test/isolate

50 replies

Snakes666 · 08/08/2020 09:31

2.5 yo son. Came down with a cold yesterday, bit of a runny nose, dry sounding throat.

I've ordered test kits to be on the safe side - they are coming today, but I am due to start a brand new job on Monday and my husband has an important day on Monday too. The original plan was for grandparents to take DS on Monday. He also has nursery Tuesday.

I'm guessing we need to cancel all work commitments until we get test results back? I'm fairly certain DS just has a cold but trying to be cautious.

Advice please?

OP posts:

yarncakes · 08/08/2020 09:35

Yes better to self isolate. Does your DS go nursery?

TrindleGin · 08/08/2020 09:36

We had the same and all went for tests yesterday lots of colds going around ... we were negative my son is the same age x

Triangularbubble · 08/08/2020 09:39

Your nursery will definitely not want a child awaiting a Covid test result! If it happens again and you can get to a drive through they’re usually faster getting results back.

SRK16 · 08/08/2020 09:39

If you can get there, it’s faster to get results via drive through. My husband got his within 48 hours start to finish- when I did a home test the whole process (waiting for delivery etc) took 4 days I think. But yes, self isolate in the meantime.

TrindleGin · 08/08/2020 09:40

@Snakes666

2.5 yo son. Came down with a cold yesterday, bit of a runny nose, dry sounding throat.

I'm guessing we need to cancel all work commitments until we get test results back? I'm fairly certain DS just has a cold but trying to be cautious.

Advice please?

We were told by nursery a few colds going around and unless they had a temp the all fine

TrindleGin · 08/08/2020 09:41

Sorry to add we got results back in 12 hours

Acheypain · 08/08/2020 09:41

If he doesn’t have a temperature, continuous cough or changes to senses of taste or smell then he shouldn’t need a test.

greytminds · 08/08/2020 09:42

My daughter had a cold last week. Lots of congestion but no fever and otherwise well. We carried on as normal. If either a cough or a fever had appeared we would have immediately self-isolated. Winter will be impossible to manage if everyone isolated at the sign of a sniffle. Congestion is a rare symptom of Covid, so very unlikely it is that.

yarncakes · 08/08/2020 09:46

Sorry I just read he does go to nursery! Should've paid attention x

blacktop · 08/08/2020 09:47

He has a cold? No covid symptoms, why are you all getting tested etc?

ThatDamnScientist · 08/08/2020 09:48

@TrindleGin
We were told by nursery a few colds going around and unless they had a temp the all fine

That is really bad advice. Not everyone has a fever with covid!

ThatDamnScientist · 08/08/2020 09:50

@blacktop

He has a cold? No covid symptoms, why are you all getting tested etc?

The symptoms are varied. Many people have shown 'cold' symptoms yet actually tested positive for covid.

blacktop · 08/08/2020 09:50

[quote ThatDamnScientist]@TrindleGin
We were told by nursery a few colds going around and unless they had a temp the all fine

That is really bad advice. Not everyone has a fever with covid![/quote]

Why is it bad advice? A cold is not covid! If there are no actual covers symptoms then you can carry on as normal.

blacktop · 08/08/2020 09:51

Many people have shown 'cold' symptoms yet actually tested positive for covid.

Yet a runny nose and dry throat are not on the list of symptoms for getting tested.

ineedaholidaynow · 08/08/2020 09:57

Many schools are having the policy that even if a pupil has a negative test result they stay off school until symptoms go, partly because of false negatives but partly to stop other bugs spreading.

AriettyHomily · 08/08/2020 09:57

[quote ThatDamnScientist]@TrindleGin
We were told by nursery a few colds going around and unless they had a temp the all fine

That is really bad advice. Not everyone has a fever with covid![/quote]
If we all self isolate for a sniffle over winter we will be well and truly screwed.the advice is fever, continuous cough and loss of taste or smell.

blacktop · 08/08/2020 10:01

@ineedaholidaynow

Many schools are having the policy that even if a pupil has a negative test result they stay off school until symptoms go, partly because of false negatives but partly to stop other bugs spreading.

That's fine if they actually have covid symptoms. If they have a run of the mill cold the advice is not to self isolate.

Original poster

Snakes666 · 08/08/2020 10:13

He's got a bit of a cough, but think it's only from the mucus in his throat. It's less than 5 times an hour.

Honestly not sure what to do.

OP posts:

Porcupineinwaiting · 08/08/2020 10:23

Test him.

It is probably a cold but COVID in children can and does present this way.

StrangeAddiction · 08/08/2020 10:25

I'd still test and make plans to SI, the symptoms you've described might be "rare" but doesn't mean 100% it isn't covid. There are asymptotic people walking round just like the man who shut three pubs in my area! He was tested because his brother had symptoms and was a confirmed case he was tested but felt absolutely fine so went on a pub crawl while waiting for his results - he tested positive so rang everywhere he'd been and told them he tested positive so they all decided to close down and do a deep clean.

titchy · 08/08/2020 10:28

Book a drive through test - you'll have the result tomorrow.

Lazypuppy · 08/08/2020 10:28

My dd has had a cold, plenty of kids at her nursery have colds. No one isolated or had covid tests as they didn't have the 3 symptoms. Didn't even cross my mind

If you're gonna isolate every time they have a cold, brace yourself for winter!

CityDweller · 08/08/2020 10:32

If he doesn't have a temp or any of the symptoms listed on the NHS website that determine that you should test (continuous cough; loss of taste/smell) then I would continue life as normal.

On a separate note, drive-through test if you're in a hurry. We had one yesterday at 2.30pm for DD (temp) and got the results at 8.25am today (so 16hrs). We got tested because she had covid symptoms and we're going on holiday tomorrow so needed to know! (It came back negative, btw!)

eeeyoresmiles · 08/08/2020 10:38

There's what you have to do, and what you should do if you can. Basically, even with what seems like just a cold, if you can test and isolate a bit then it's worth doing, for several reasons. Firstly, a few of those 'colds' will actually turn out to be covid. Also, the more colds are spreading, the more people will face exactly your current dilemma, over and over again.

Some people with limited ability to isolate will not have the option of going beyond the minimum the rules say, ie isolating for the UK's version of the core symptoms (other countries list more). Everyone who does have the option of doing more should though, because more 'colds' circulating is only going to make life harder for everyone, and of course some of them will actually be covid.

YewHedge · 08/08/2020 10:44

OP what you should do is check the NHS online 111 Coronavirus service and ask them what to do.
Not MB!

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