Runny nose and sore throat - do I need a test?

[Nursetynursey]

I’m a nurse (outpatienrs) and developed a runny nose and feel a bit run down with a sore throat. Do I need a test? So I need to isolate? Coughed once or twice but only when throat dry, almost like hay fever. Definitely feels like a cold more than a flu.
Ta X

No! And I'm shocked as medical professional you even need to ask
Is this a joke thread?

No.

Monday night my sore throat started. Tuesday it was agony, felt lethargic, stuffy, like a really really bad cold. Today I woke up still sore throat but took some ibuprofen and it went away but have been left with an increasing cough all day. My 8 month old has a cough and went to see the GP today just to check it was viral and nothing more serious. GP on the phone advises me to get a test done and I wasn’t allowed to take DD to the surgery as I have symptoms. I only told her at the time that DD had flu-y like symptoms, clammy, irritable, doesn’t want to play, snotty and generally gross - said I had the same symptoms both quite poorly. I didn’t even mention that I had a cough and she recommended getting tested.

Not sure a nurse coming to mumsnet to ask about symptoms and tests gives me much confidence !

I’ve a ticklish throat and I’m not gonna ask for one. It’s not one of the 3

If my test comes back positive I think the advice needs to change. Perhaps not to get tested if you have flu like symptoms, but to at least isolate. A sore throat was once a symptom, it still is they just don’t test for that alone as a sore throat could be anything. But it doesn’t mean it’s not Covid which I think people are forgetting. If we really want to stop the spread, then anyone who falls ill with cold or flu like symptoms needs to isolate.

@WhatDoIDooDIoDtahW everything would grind to a halt if we had to
self isolate every time anyone has cold symptoms!

[quote fifteenisthemagicnumber]@WhatDoIDooDIoDtahW everything would grind to a halt if we had to
self isolate every time anyone has cold symptoms! [/quote]
Plus after 6 months of lockdown, I actively want my 13 month old to get a couple of colds to help build up his immune system.

@fifteenisthemagicnumber where I live everything is coming to a halt and partly for that exact reason.

Some schools are sending kids home with colds bug none of the three key symptoms. People are deciding to isolate as they are worried their cold symptoms are coronavirus but can't get a test.

Operations and clinics are being cancelled because NHS staff can't get tests for either themselves or their children.

Huge numbers of school classes and year groups are being sent home to isolate due to positive tests. Or in some cases whilst people wait for test results which feels like overkill but presumably is for good reason.

I cold go on....

I think that this thread is a wind -up.

A sore throat is a very common covid symptom, it's just not one of the three they offer tests for at the moment.

How often are you coughing? A covid cough isn't necessarily constant, the guidelines are 3 episodes in 24 hours.

A runny nose is a very uncommon symptom. Please dont test unless you have one of the 3 main symptoms, clearly currently were not in the situation where we have the capacity to be testing everyone.

Here's the three reasons to get a test:

1. Continuous cough
2. Temperature
3. Change of taste/smell

Do not test for sore throat or runny nose!

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/#:~:text=Do%20not%20wait.%20If,also%20stay%20at%20home.

Tricky. As a nurse you must be at higher risk of getting it. A sore throat is one of the common symptoms of Covid, as is fatigue, just not on the government list. The consequences to patients in the hospital if you do have Covid are concerning. Could you speak to someone at work and see what they want you to do? Personally I’m your situation I’d want to get a test. My answer might be different if you didn’t have such a high risk job.

I only told her at the time that DD had flu-y like symptoms, clammy, irritable, doesn’t want to play, snotty and generally gross - said I had the same symptoms

So that's why they recommended a test. Flu-like symptoms.

Not a wind up. Confused as earlier sore throats were linked with Covid and now no test for this. How would you feel if nurse with sore throat and dripping snot were taking care of you or your loved ones?

It's actually really worrying that a nurse can't understand very basic guidelines. Even if, due you being a nurse, your employer has different criteria for testing you really should know what they are.

How would you feel if nurse with sore throat and dripping snot were taking care of you or your loved ones?

This isn't a question related to Covid testing. This is a 'should I be w work with a runny nose' I would feel marginally better that you had a runny nose than I do that you have had to ask for help to interpret the 3 symptoms which qualify you for a test though

@Nursetynursey

Not a wind up. Confused as earlier sore throats were linked with Covid and now no test for this. How would you feel if nurse with sore throat and dripping snot were taking care of you or your loved ones?

Well, if you'd a dripping nose to the extent you can't do your job, you call in sick.

It's pretty common-sense, tbh.

There are a myriad of symptoms for Covid. Some people never have respiratory symptoms or a cough. Some people have no symptoms

However in order to have some way to manage resources effectively, they choose 3 most common symptoms. If you have one of them, get tested.

If not, and you feel well enough to go to work, do.

If you worsen or feel more seriously unwell, seek further advice from your workplace.

It's not that hard.

Contact Occ Health

@Nursetynursey

Not a wind up. Confused as earlier sore throats were linked with Covid and now no test for this. How would you feel if nurse with sore throat and dripping snot were taking care of you or your loved ones?

Stay off sick ill if you are ill doesn't mean you need to get a covid test

@Nursetynursey

Not a wind up. Confused as earlier sore throats were linked with Covid and now no test for this. How would you feel if nurse with sore throat and dripping snot were taking care of you or your loved ones?

Presumably you would take care not to drip snot? Take some sudafed and blow your nose, for example.

On what grounds do you think you need a test
You have none of the qualifying symptoms.

How would you feel if nurse with sore throat and dripping snot were taking care of you or your loved ones?

Do people normally take time off for a runny nose? Presumably you would employ some sort of hygiene measures such as blowing your nose

You do not have any of the three symptoms you need to to get tested. I find it really hard to understand where the confusion is. Unless your trust has other rules, in which case you wouldn't be asking on Mumsnet.

Exactly. WTF?! All all these threads for real?!

Yes - if you were in my trust. There is plenty of testing capacity for staff and cold symptoms are included in the trigger locally speak to your staff testing team locally and they will advise. Here you’d be seen immediately and have a 4 hour result.

@londongirl12

No. As a nurse have they not given you guidance on when you need one?

This 👆🏼!! If it's not even clear to medical professionals, what hope is there for the rest of us?

Hope you feel better this morning.