Is a cough at the end of a cold a "new" cough?

[bathsh3ba]

DD12 has had a cold the last few days - started with a sore throat, progressed to runny nose and blocked nose, today she has started coughing. She hadn't coughed much before she went to school today, since she came home she has been coughing once every half hour or so, but always after she sniffs, i.e. it's probably post-nasal drip. Does this count as a new cough and do I have to do the whole test and isolate thing AGAIN? (We isolated for DD10's change in sense of taste last week and she tested negative). No fever, no shortness of breath, no change to smell/taste.

@Babyboomtastic

Who made you seemingly the authority on all of this?

😀

I'm not!

But I can critically assess & understand information & I really object to the widespread misinformation being peddled here & elsewhere, largely as a result of the UK government's appalling mismanagement.

I also am able to use common sense.

Finally, I live in a country & have seen evidence at first hand, where a qualified medical professional decides when a test is warranted.

HTH.

Not a high grade, seeing snakes coming out of the walls fever

Covid fever is exactly that - a temperature of over 38 degrees.

Not a low grade one.

I don't give a monkeys what Ireland test for.

You're nice!

Actually, we test based on the same criteria as the UK (funny that).

We don't test if we have a cold. Nor do you.

However, with self referral people can make their own idiotic decisions.

@EarringsandLipstick

I don't give a monkeys what Ireland test for.

You're nice!

Actually, we test based on the same criteria as the UK (funny that).

We don't test if we have a cold. Nor do you.

However, with self referral people can make their own idiotic decisions.

OK, but in the UK we test for a new continuous cough. It doesn't say anything about not testing if you have a cough + other symptoms...

Aren't the most common symptoms of Covid actually fatigue and a headache? They are not used as the symptoms which require a test, because half the world has them at any given time, but I think for a lot of people they are the major symptoms.

EarringsandLipstick, I have to agree with previous posters that you have got completely the wrong end of the stick on the testing criteria in the UK. It's very simple. Got a new, persistent cough, get a test. You could have purple and green spots with the cough, which are definitely not Covid symptoms, but the criteria is clear: got a cough, get a test.

@EarringsandLipstick

• 38 leaves me feeling a bit shivery, that's it.

• are you willfully ignoring the UK testing criteria or just misunderstanding it. If you have one of the three symptoms you get a test, whether you have other symptoms or not. The type of cough, whether you are sneezing etc is irrelevant for deciding whether to test. If you disagree, can you please link us to the UK testing criteria which contradicts me.

You test 'for a cold' if that cold has one of the three symptoms. It's not complicated

The likelihood is that by not testing those who also have cold symptoms, you will miss cases, but that's your countries issue to deal with.

Many people with Covid are asymptomatic. How do you suggest we test those? Test everyone? Every day?

Of course cases will be missed (rich coming from a country that was so slow to respond in the first place!).

What's the way to deal with it? See my many previous posts:

Follow careful, structured public health advice which Ireland (largely) has

AND

Exercise personal responsibility with hygiene, limiting social contact, mask wearing & physical distancing. (Again, which is largely happening in Ireland).

Also, absolutely test as needed, based on criteria, and make it effective (take a look at the Lancet article I posted to see why it's not in the UK), and have a good contact tracing system.

Finally, ensure there's responsive local provisions in place eg Dublin & Donegal are under more restrictions than the rest of the country as higher rates.

@Mippi

Please explain the UK testing criteria then *@EarringsandLipstick* because I haven't seen anything about not testing if you have additional symptoms

I've done so repeatedly Mippi but you don't seem to want to read my posts. That's fine.

EarringsandLipstick, I have to agree with previous posters that you have got completely the wrong end of the stick on the testing criteria in the UK.

I really really haven't!

If you have a cold, and it's clearly a cold, you don't need a Covid test, by and large.

In Ireland, you ring your GP, they assess & refer you as needed.

I agree there's confusion in the UK as the symptoms are listed baldly & you can self refer.

I guarantee if you went to your GP and were clinically assessed, you wouldn't be referred with only cold symptoms & no other factors.

In the absence of this, people are self referring.

I do agree they are following the guidance available to them. But the consequence is lack of availability of testing. I've seen many posts here from people needing tests who can't get them. That's crazy!

If you don't test within 5 days of symptoms appearing it's no use!

So you are effectively diminishing the usefulness of tests.

If you have a cold, and it's clearly a cold, you don't need a Covid test, by and large.
This is the sticking point though, isn't it - because if there was an easy way of telling when something is "clearly a cold" we wouldn't need testing.
But unfortunately there isn't.

@Babyboomtastic

The problem is self referral.

People are looking for tests where they are not warranted.

I do agree that this is the fault of the system & the lack of clarity around using the testing process but still, people should have some common sense.

People who need tests aren't getting them.

In Ireland, a clinical assessment is done by a GP or public health doctor first. Yes, some people will have cold symptoms & be referred for a test, as the doctor will consider all factors. This is sensible.

Many more will not be referred - for my own children & many others that I know, this is what happened.

The key message to all, that the UK has been shocking at communicating, is to follow hand hygiene, physical distancing, wear masks & reduce your social contacts.

if there was an easy way of telling when something is "clearly a cold" we wouldn't need testing.
But unfortunately there isn't.

Well, in Ireland, you discuss with the GP and they decide.

But where all symptoms are linked to a cold, you don't need to test, and that is, IMO, relatively easy to do. (I appreciate you & others disagree, happy to leave it there)

Night all.

You really really have got it wrong. You may well disagree with the testing criteria but you are completely wrong about what you think the criteria is.

If the uk government, at a time when tests are in short supply, really thought people who had cold symptoms AS WELL AS a cough didn't need a test, don't you think they would spell that out clearly on the NHS site?!

It's absolutely bizarre that you have made up your interpretation, that isn't anywhere on the uk guidance and are insisting that it's right. Maybe you're feverish and hallucinating? Perhaps you need a test?!

The problem isn't that people are getting tests when they should be - by T&T's own estimate that's 20-25% of cases* but that T&T doesn't have enough testing capacity, as they estimate they need 3-4x as much. The naughty asymptomatic people excuse is just a red herring taking the pressure off the government which had months to get it's testing plan up to scratch.

*Though given a one off temp = a test, when asked 3 days later at a test site, people may well not have symptoms but still should be there, so not sure how accurate that estimate is.

According to someone from the Zoe app who was on the radio a runny nose is rarely a symptom. Although this may be why/because it’s not even listed as a symptom on the app.

@JS87

According to someone from the Zoe app who was on the radio a runny nose is rarely a symptom. Although this may be why/because it’s not even listed as a symptom on the app.

I noticed that too! There's about 10 different symptoms you can tick yes or no to, but not runny nose, so obviously they're not getting anyone with runny noses

I had a cold caught from dc (two weeks after starting school!)

I started to get a dry cough near the end of the cold.

School insisted I get a test, I thought they were being silly as it was clearly a very mild cough due to a cold (had a runny nose, sneezing but no fever etc.)

Positive test result arrived today.

EarringsandLipstick
I agree with everything you've said. Several of Ds friends and their families are sitting round at home off school and work self isolating with cold symptoms moaning about getting a test. It's crazy!
The self referral system is not working.

The NHS issued a letter to school and college parents: m.facebook.com/notes/nhsuk/a-covid-19-update-for-parents-of-school-and-college-pupils/10164299076590444/.

Cold symptoms shouldn't lead to testing children any more, because it's proven to have been unnecessarily overwhelming the system. Under-10s in particular have been put forward for ~200,000 tests last week with below 1% getting a positive result, what they have is rhinovirus. People (including children) with covid symptoms need to be able to get a test. Throat clearing at the tail end of a cold doesn't need a test.

@EarringsandLipstick
I’m with you. Dc have all had a sore throat, snot and sneezes. No cough or temperature or loss of smell.
When I phoned 111 for guidance, they advised that it almost certainly wasn’t Corona and they didn’t need a test. I’m in England.
I also applaud your patience on this thread

@RickOShay

😊 thank you!

That Facebook link MRex posted was very interesting, especially the comments, where I could see how confused people are.

In fairness to the PP disagreeing with me, I do see where you are coming from. I also acknowledge I'm in a different country & don't want to be that arsehole poster thinking I (or my country / Government) know better! I don't, I was just trying to approach it in a logical way. I can see why there's lots of confusion around this.

Hope everyone's doing ok today x

My eldest had a cold last weekend and then a few days later I started with it.
Spent all yesterday at work trying not to cough but this morning it has moved into that constant coughing stage.

I’m hoping that goes by Monday or I’ll not be allowed in work because anyone coughing causes fear to staff members and then you get sent home.

I have a cough, sore throat and swollen sinuses plus runny nose. I can still smell and taste my food.

Yet if the boss hears me cough I’ll be sent home to isolate. Sigh.

Sorry, forgot to say that they are now coughing! Not continuously, but it’s there.
It is very confusing, and most of us are just trying to do our best.
Hope you are all ok too @EarringsandLipstick

Well, this took off! As an update the cough is now occasional and was only frequent for one evening (she said it started on the bus home). It didn't keep her awake. She is feeling much better in herself. I'm keeping her off her theatre school today, as she can't sing and to avoid worrying others, but we aren't planning to test unless it gets worse. We aren't going anywhere this weekend anyway and will play Monday by ear. I'm sure some will disagree with us but in my view the definition of a cough is far from clear and we are trying to find a sensible path through the madness.

[quote RickOShay]@EarringsandLipstick
I’m with you. Dc have all had a sore throat, snot and sneezes. No cough or temperature or loss of smell.
When I phoned 111 for guidance, they advised that it almost certainly wasn’t Corona and they didn’t need a test. I’m in England.
I also applaud your patience on this thread [/quote]
That's because your children didn't have one of the testable symptoms: cough, temperature, loss of smell.

Is this REALLY so hard?