keep DD off (still coughing but negative covid test)

[ginberry4]

DD started with fever Thursday, cough Friday. Covid test results have come back negative. Her temperature has been normal since Sunday, she is completely well in herself but is still coughing quite a bit.

What’s the consensus on sending her back to school - Do I keep her off til the cough stops? Or am I ok to send back because of the negative result? Just don’t want to cause hassle for others if she passes the cough around.

I think in theory you are ok as long as she is ok in herself. Best speak to the school to be sure though. Ours would allow her back if you can prove negative test.

Coughs can last for weeks. How often is she coughing? You would be free to send her but you could also see if the cough subsides over the next day or 2

Think official advice is 48hr after fever goes but don’t need to wait for cough to go as can take weeks

My understanding is that you can send her to school once you have a negative Covid test as long as she is well enough (i.e would you have sent her in ordinarily, in a non Covid world).

If you've had a negative test I'd apply the same approach as you would in any other year, you don't need to do anything different for a cold unless your school is being unreasonable imo

My sons primary school accept back with a negative test 48 hour after fever subsides.

@dementedpixie

Coughs can last for weeks. How often is she coughing? You would be free to send her but you could also see if the cough subsides over the next day or 2

She’s coughed around 15 times in the last hour. Not just a single cough but 15 bouts of coughing of 2-8 coughs each (yes I counted). I think that’s quite a lot.

I just worry about putting anyone else in the same predicament of not being able to get a test & being forced to isolate. Plus I don’t want anyone else to catch it. I’ve had got it too & it’s been unpleasant. My cough really hurts.

Anyway I just called the school & they suggested maybe giving her another day or two to see if it settles. So that’s what we’ll do.

Thanks all

Negative test means no covid so send her?!

I think you are wise to keep her off until the cough is better despite having a negative result, coughing is lousy.

Hopefully her cough will settle down a bit in the next day, but on the basis they don't tend to disappear overnight make sure she practises excellent cough etiquette before heading back to school. I teach secondary and have a few students with an occasional cough in my classes who are either not covering their mouth at all or using their hands and then touching things without cleaning them first. So please make sure she knows to use her elbow to cough into and how to wash her hands effectively (if allowed and she is old enough to use responsibly I'd give her some hand sanitiser to take with her too, for use if she forgets and coughs into her hands), hopefully this will help stop the spread of her non-covid cough.

I think for me it would be more about her not passing the cough on to others and then lots of other families having to go through the worry and stress of getting a Covid year and possibly having to self isolate the whole family for 2 weeks and take unpaid tome off work

Yes I would keep her off until her cough has subsided. With a virus like Rhinovirus you can be contagious for two weeks, so if she's coughing excessively she can easily spread the virus. Covid free doesn't mean illness free. So yes you'll potentially be putting others in the same situation you are now.

I'd ask the school for their advice and just do what they say. DS had a heavy cold which has left him with a cough. He feels otherwise well but has a phlegmy cough about every ten minutes. I phoned the school and they told me it was fine to send him back in as long as he doesn't have a temperature.

I’d keep off until cough has subsided a bit. Ideally until it’s completely gone but as that can take weeks it may not be pragmatic - it’s a judgement call.

That's quite a cough. Mine went back with a cough but I'd say they cough maybe once Every few hours. Or quite a lot of you mention to someone they have a cough

I know this isn’t what you asked, but honey (either on a spoon) or in warm water really helps soothe the irritation caused by a cough.
A certain amount of coughing is caused by the irritation caused by coughing so it can quickly become a negative spiral.
I have a dd who is prone to terrible coughs (weird barking noise, nebulisers, steroids...) but I since I started giving honey after she coughs, we haven’t had a really bad, extended one since.

If honey isn’t an option, sucking marshmallows helps a little bit too.