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Original poster

Ds2 and I coughing but we haven't been anywhere

27 replies

elliejjtiny · 10/08/2020 13:36

We haven't been shielding but we are vulnerable so have been avoiding all non essential trips out. Dh has been to supermarket and primary school aged dc went to school when allowed. I went to a hospital appointment in June. That's it, nowhere else at all.

Now ds2 (aged 12) has a blocked nose and a cough and I have a cough. Neither of us have a temperature or any other symptoms. Rest of the family are fine and the only person to leave the house in the last 2 weeks was dh to go to the supermarket wearing a mask.

I'm worried about coronavirus but can't see how we could have got it. I'm wondering if it's a mixture of hayfever and dust as the neighbours are having building work done and they are sanding today. Do we need a covid test. I really hope not as ds2 has autism and he is not going to react well to it (understatement of the year).

OP posts:
cathyandclare · 10/08/2020 13:38

Anyone with a new persistent cough needs a test

SengaStrawberry · 10/08/2020 13:39

I think you’re going to need to get a test sorry x hope is negative. Most tests are which suggests people are still getting what seems like CV symptoms for other reasons x

WildSkitty · 10/08/2020 13:41

Sorry to hear about your symptoms. Yes, you both need testing as you both have symptoms of covid and you need to assume it's that until it's ruled out. Your family all need to isolate until you and your son have been tested.

Covid can live on surfaces for up to 3 days so it's possible a contaminated letter/item from the supermarket brought the infection into your house. Or another member of your household has had it but with no symptoms.

Please get a test. It's really important.

And I understand about your son with ASD, I have an 11 year olf with ASD too and he would really struggle with the test but it's vital.

Grufallisfriends · 10/08/2020 13:41

Please get tested! It's very important. Hopefully it's negative.

Grufallisfriends · 10/08/2020 13:42

Do we need a covid test. I really hope not as ds2 has autism

Yes, please get yourselves tested.

BornOnThe4thJuly · 10/08/2020 13:45

I would probably get tested yourself first, and then get your son tested if yours is positive. If you think he’s going to be very distressed. I did read the other day that the advice now, is that the swab doesn’t have to go far up into your nose, so it won’t be as bad as they were earlier on in the pandemic.

year5teacher · 10/08/2020 13:54

Highly likely it’s hayfever or dust as you say but you still need a test.

Uhoh2020 · 10/08/2020 13:58

It probably is just hay-fever or allergies as it often makes me cough too. You don't have to get a test though but you need to assume you do have it and all isolate for 14 days. However if any of you need to leave the house in the next 14 days then only a negative test from both you will mean they can do that safely

Original poster
elliejjtiny · 10/08/2020 13:58

Thankyou. That's a good idea about getting me tested first. It normally takes 2 adults to wash ds2's hair so I dread to think what it will be like with a covid test.

OP posts:
orangenasturtium · 10/08/2020 14:00

Blocked nose is not a common symptom of COVID-19 so it is most likely hayfever/dust. You should still get tested though.

The alternative to testing would be to assume you have the virus and quarantine the household. I'm assuming that is possible without to much disruption if no one has left the house in 14 days except to go to the supermarket. You should be able to get an online delivery at the moment.

Original poster
elliejjtiny · 10/08/2020 14:11

Thankyou. The builders stopped for lunch and we have both stopped coughing. We'll see what happens when they start sanding again. I think it will be a lot easier to quarantine the house than try to test ds2.

OP posts:
Covidisdrivingmecrazy · 10/08/2020 14:12

Your dh could have caught it and is asymptomatic. I think the message that any new symptoms could get tested is falling to get through. We all try and mentally find another reason not to. Basically any symptoms everyone should isolate and get tested end of. Better a wasted test than a missed positive inadvertently spreading it.
I'm not criticising you government messaging on this has been really poor and far too focused on a narrow set of symptoms. Plus you don't need to have all three!!

Uhoh2020 · 10/08/2020 14:19

@elliejjtiny close all your windows. If you can try get some hot air / steam into you it will loosen any dust or anything that's aggravating you that's causing you too cough.
In your position I probably wouldn't get tested as you haven't been near anyone else for track and trace to apply and its sounds as if you are practically isolating anyway.

BlingLoving · 10/08/2020 14:41

The thing is that this disease is ridiculously contagious, partly because so many people do have it without symptoms. We're 90% certain we all had it (before testing was a thing so no confirmation). But in our house, the only one who was sick was DH. None of us got a persistent cough except for the DC coughing for one night. Three of us lost our sense of taste and smell. The problem is that this was at the beginning of lockdown. We self isolated completely as soon as DH started with actual symptoms, but sadly, it's likely we had it before his symptoms came on and certainly as the person doing the shopping - and the only one leaving the house outside of our daily exercise - who knows if I spread it it around before that?

danni0509 · 10/08/2020 14:48

Ellie I’m in your exact predicament.

Ds started coughing 2 days ago, I started coughing last night, we have been out and about though so could be covid (although probably isn’t) I’ve been for a drive through covid test this morning, I’ve ordered ds (6) a covid home test, not a single chance he would of had it done with me at the drive through, he has autism and doesn’t even let me take his temperature can’t clean his ears cut his nails nothing. He’s the most uncooperative child ever even when bribed with anything he wants.

I have absolutely no idea how I will administer this test - it’s being delivered tomorrow. Dreading it.

I haven’t actually coughed since I woke up and ds is barely coughing now. Sod’s law. Neither of us feel ill.

Keepdistance · 10/08/2020 14:55

What date were the kids in school till?
Can be up to 14d but they have found over 28d too.
Swindon tesco have an outbreak as did the iceland there.
If it is on average 5d then it's today -5 (which would start on day 3 after he caught in as you are contagious 2d before symptom
Eg supermarket 1/08
He would be ill 6/08 but contagious from around the 4/08

Climbingallthetrees · 10/08/2020 14:58

With a blocked nose it’s more likely to be hayfever than Covid19. But you need to test yourself anyway. I probably wouldn’t bother testing your son, you’ve both developed symptoms at the same time so if you don’t have it, it’s unlikely he will.

HasaDigaEebowai · 10/08/2020 14:59

There are coughs going around. I've had a cough for a week but my test result came though about an hour ago and its negative.

TheGreatWave · 10/08/2020 15:02

You don't have to have a test, but if you don't you would need to treat it as if you have - so self isolation and then family members for the full 14 days.

CeibaTree · 10/08/2020 15:31

@elliejjtiny

Thankyou. That's a good idea about getting me tested first. It normally takes 2 adults to wash ds2's hair so I dread to think what it will be like with a covid test.
If you are getting tested and you have exactly the same symptoms do you really need to get your child tested too? Surely the result will be the same for you both?
HasaDigaEebowai · 10/08/2020 15:33

It takes about three minutes to order a home test and it comes very quickly (via amazon). You then send it back and the result comes within 2 days. Its hardly a hassle to do.

Trashtara · 10/08/2020 15:34

Test yourself. If it is positive, you really don't need to test DS, if it is negative you can choose to quarantine the household or get a test.

Remmy123 · 10/08/2020 19:06

It's very unlikely to be COVID I don't think its that contagious if you arnt going out

BabySweet85 · 10/08/2020 19:08

You need to get a test x

Timeforanotherusername · 10/08/2020 19:53

I have felt a bit coldy today although no Covid symptoms.

Its rare for me to get a cough with a cold anyway.

I think its probably the weather. I don't do great when its hot and muggy.