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Original poster

Blocked nose and sneezing

18 replies

CathyandHeathcliff · 20/09/2020 17:59

My 2 year old started with this today. He sounds very congested. No temperature but he’s coughed a couple of times when he’s laying down, I’m guessing due to the excess snot.
Do I need to get tests?
We only had them a couple of weeks ago as we all had temps and coughs then (negative)

OP posts:
Original poster
CathyandHeathcliff · 20/09/2020 17:59

He goes to nursery twice a week, so I guess that’s where he’s picking it up

OP posts:
Itshissister · 20/09/2020 18:01

I wouldn't.

We all have had colds here too and have a cough sometimes but it is not a continuous cough.

Itshissister · 20/09/2020 18:03

I will add, its such a minefield for everyone at the moment.

I do think that is why there is increased testing though, because people are getting more colds at the moment with schools going back etc and the usual coughs etc that go hand in hand with them.

user1485461206 · 20/09/2020 18:03

Sounds like that my daughter came home with week before last then passed onto us, we both tested as coughing and work wouldn’t allow us back without the test but both negative so just a cold. I wouldn’t test if my daughter coughed a few times, she was mainly just snot.

SqidgeBum · 20/09/2020 18:07

If it was my DD, I would assume she has a cold, and I would not get her tested. Not every illness or sneeze is covid. I would just go for the olbas oil and calpol if it seemed like she had a headache etc, same as usual.

WankPuffins · 20/09/2020 18:16

We all had that last week, even the 3 week old baby who is still snotty.

6 year old brought it back from school. All fine now. Only cough was when waking up after laying down all night, all normal.

One of my family members was raging with me for not getting us all tested. It was a normal cold.

Vikingess · 20/09/2020 18:17

It’s a cold ffs. No wonder tests are running out.

Leafbeans · 20/09/2020 18:18

Only if he develops a temp, or a persistent cough. The loss of taste and smell is pretty useless as an indicator for those who can't communicate fully yet.

zafferana · 20/09/2020 18:18

Those aren't Covid symptoms OP, they're cold symptoms, so no you don't need to get a test. A Covid cough is a continuous, dry cough. A cold cough is usually wet and phlegmy sounding. We've had a cold this past week and it's been rubbish, but it is just a cold.

CrazyOldBagLady · 20/09/2020 18:19

We have had this too this week. Just a cold, not Corona symptoms. The worst was over after the initial 24 hours.

StrangeAddiction · 20/09/2020 18:48

I know someone who only had a blocked nose and tested positive so it's not always "just a cold" and that's probably why it's spreading the way it is, most people writing off symptoms as "just a cold" 🤷🏻‍♀️

Original poster
CathyandHeathcliff · 20/09/2020 18:51

Thanks everyone. I can’t believe we only got over our previous one two weeks ago and now something new!

OP posts:
Posturesorposes · 20/09/2020 18:54

I know someone who only had a blocked nose and tested positive so it's not always "just a cold" and that's probably why it's spreading the way it is, most people writing off symptoms as "just a cold"

So what shall we conclude from this anecdote on the Internet? shall we continue to follow current instructions which is to test when one out of three criteria Occur? Or shall we test when we do not meet the criteria for testing and still go ahead and test based on comments as above.

If the OPs child meets one of the three criteria for testing they should isolate and get tested.

If they do not meet the testing criteria - they do not test.

It is simple.

SqidgeBum · 20/09/2020 19:12

@StrangeAddiction

I know someone who only had a blocked nose and tested positive so it's not always "just a cold" and that's probably why it's spreading the way it is, most people writing off symptoms as "just a cold" 🤷🏻‍♀️
We are literally being told not to get tests unless we are showing symptoms of covid, as outlined by the government. We live in Britain, about to go into winter, with kids in school and people at work. We cant all be getting tested for every little sneeze.

I am starting to think people have forgotten that flu and cold will still be around this winter. We need to use some common sense before we all trudge off to the testing centre every 4 weeks.

StrangeAddiction · 20/09/2020 19:33

Sorry I should have said he works for the NHS so was probably tested within their guidelines but that still just shows that other symptoms can be Covid and not just the main three.

StrangeAddiction · 20/09/2020 19:36

And as happens three out of five of in my household have coughs. I did have a sore throat that started my symptoms off but thankfully we've all tested negative.

BananaPie · 20/09/2020 20:59

It’s not all that simple though. It’s a minefield.

A cold often results in a cough, along with a runny nose / blocked nose / sore throat. How can you be sure it’s a cold and not Covid?

And what’s a continuous cough? The definition is coughing a lot for more than an hour (easy to understand) or three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours. What’s a coughing episode? Coughing more than once?

Leafbeans · 20/09/2020 21:02

No @StrangeAddiction, what is spreading it is the lack of available testing or appropriate measures being taken places. People know there are other symptoms, but seen as though there aren't enough tests for the 'main 3', if people test for outlying symptoms such as the sniffles the system collapses even further.

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