No fever, no cough but....

[Timtims]

DS got sent home from school c12 days ago as there was a positive case in his class. He's self isolated and had zero symptoms. I've hardly been anywhere myself in the past fortnight (one visit to local shop), but DH has been in work.

For the past 4 days I've had a bad headache. Not severe enough to completely wipe me out, but bad enough to need constant painkillers, a lot of quiet, and very early nights. Feels a bit sinusy but no mucus.

I've had no continuous cough (just a slight tickle), no loss of taste, and no fever, so don't meet the criteria for testing. But I don't seem to be improving. Bizarrely DH had a migraine on Monday, but has felt fine since, so probably completely unrelated.

Wwyd, should I try to get a test or not? Does anyone know if a bad headache is a symptom?

@magissa I would argue that you have a noticable new cough, you need a test. Plus combined with your other symptoms and your households contact with someone with a positive test. If you are isolating that is good

This is the problem with the UK system, really OP probably should get a test but cant. We dont have the testing capacity to cope with our population levels really

Also OP what do you mean when you say a slight tickle? Are you coughing?

OK thanks. Will see how I am tomorrow.

Does anyone know if DS would need to isolate again for 2 weeks if I did get a positive test? Also, I presume no one can go to school/work whilst we're waiting for test results for me? (obviously I realise I can't).

hi op I know there are issues with tests so I'm not sure the situation on how 'ok' it is to get one. It is definitely possible so I'd be isolating at the minimum.

If its sinus pain then steam your head off for me it relieves the pressure

Not coughing but throat just feels a bit 'tickly'.

I had a slight 'tickle' and a bit of incredibly mild throat clearing whcih did not develop into a cough but with hindsight, did precede loss of sense of smell. No sinus trouble though. Sorry for the anecdata!

That sounds similar to me ink.

Feel quite traumatised about the thought of my DCs potentially needing to self isolate for ANOTHER 2 weeks. That will be a month off school. They are so looking forward to being back in on Monday.

I would test because at least you have some symptoms even if they aren't the main 3. Yes headaches are a symptom. 3 Covid-19 positive people I've spoken to today have a headache. Very few people have a cough despite it being one of 'the big 3' . What is really unnecessary is the amount of people taking tests just because they have been identified as an exposure of a positive case without them having so much as a tickle in the throat.

Positive tests in my family with headaches as a symptom, I’d get tested OP.

Good luck OP, fingers crossed you and dc won't need to isolate

Your child is fine to go to school. If youre worried about your headache speak to a pharmacist or your GP.

Here's some advice on when you need tested/ or not.

No I wouldn’t get a test. You haven’t one of the 3 symptoms of test. And by the time you’d have a test it would be more than 5 days so test would be invalid.

Yes most people who have covid start with a headache, but per the Zoe research only 1% of people who tested due to headache has covid.

Basically it could be covid, but highly likely without the 3 tasting symptoms it’s not.
There isn’t testing capacity to test headaches!
It’s a symptom of virtually all viruses going.