AIBU to say if you have a cough get a test

[ShouldWeChangeTheBulb]

I’m getting increasing pissed off with people online and IRL about not getting tested because ‘it’s just a cold’ or it’s ‘obviously not Covid’. FWIW I don’t get annoyed if someone visits family even though their not supposed to in their area. I think it’s inhuman not to have social contact so I can understand that but for god sake if you actually have symptoms lockdown straight away and get tested. I know it’s a pain in the arse but not wanting to do something is not a good reason for not doing it.
For context we are currently locked down as DS has it (he caught if from his teacher). When I tell people his symptoms I’ve lost count of how many people say ‘my dd has those symptoms but she had a runny nose last week so it’s just a cold’. You cannot tell if it’s Covid or not, the symptoms can be the same as any other illness.

You don’t know what wrong with you

Oh yes I do. Panto season has come early.

I HAVE A FUCKING COLD! I know myself. Please, in the name of all that's holy, trust what I say about myself.

I am an actual doctor in an NHS hospital. OP you are absolutely right and I have no idea why that is at all in doubt. I cannot believe this thread.

The guidance is ANY new cough (so not chronic coughs or those caused by medication or other conditions). Any cough that you would describe as 'having a cough'. I live in an area with plenty of testing capacity, and yes we are testing literally every patient with any cough.

It doesn't matter if you also have a cold, or if you had the same thing last year or last week. If you have a cough then you need to get tested, and if you can't do that then you need to isolate.

@TooLittleTooLate80 that’s what the guidelines are. I’m not making it up.

How are you expecting mass isolations to be paid for OP?

Fucking hell OP, we'd need a test done everyday in my house, dust, allergies, colds ..... not enough tests for our family alone

@NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace it’s not a matter of trust. I simply think you are wrong.

that’s what the guidelines are. I’m not making it up.

No but your interpretation of them is deliberately extreme and affected by an obvious inability to assess risk on an individual basis. Also to understand the wider systemic issue of the fact that we cant afford it.

@UselessCat
Thank you, but they won’t listen.

This whole thread shows that it shouldn’t be put on the shoulders of parents whether to test or not with a cough.

There is a pressure, either not to ‘burden’ the test and trace - which is so bad - there should be a clear criteria FROM the test and trace system on whether anyone should get a test.

It really is not fair of the system to make anyone, the OP or anyone against her - to be trying to figure this out themselves. It is not our job, none of us are experts on Covid-19 symptoms but the clinicians are and through test and trace - should be clearly signposting us.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland we can’t afford another lockdown.

Again OP.... how are we paying for all of this

I simply think you are wrong.

And I think likewise about you. We'll just have to agree to differ. You book a test if you feel you need one. When I get any of the recognised symptoms, I will do the same.

affected by an obvious inability to assess risk on an individual basis. Also to understand the wider systemic issue of the fact that we cant afford it.

But that is exactly the point.

None of us should be deciding what kind of cough it is. Someone else should (a clinician or very clear signposted guidelines such as a set of questions to gateway to a test)

None of us should be deciding not to test because the system is overburdened.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland
I haven’t ‘interpreted’ anything. Those are the guidelines. If you have. A new continuous cough lockdown then test.

No and the government won't do another lockdown. Some people will die, and many of us will get Covid. The NHS already has guidelines in place as to how to ration access to ventilators in the event of running out of hospital beds.

[quote ShouldWeChangeTheBulb]@TooLittleTooLate80 that’s what the guidelines are. I’m not making it up.[/quote]
Nah

It really is not fair of the system to make anyone, the OP or anyone against her - to be trying to figure this out themselves. It is not our job, none of us are experts on Covid-19 symptoms but the clinicians are and through test and trace - should be clearly signposting us.

This.

We are being totally failed by the shower of shites in power who (a) haven't provided enough testing capacity and (b) are sending out such contradictory messages no-one knows whether they're on their arse or their elbow.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland
It’s interesting that you haven’t responded to the doctor who is involved in testing that’s backing me up.

Someone else should (a clinician or very clear signposted guidelines such as a set of questions to gateway to a test)

Many of us have been told not to test with mild coughs by NHS doctors.

@clarcats
Completely, there is so much wrong with the testing system. BJ et al really need to step up and be clearer on who should be tested. Because people are not following the guidelines so either they need to be changed, or clarified.

Because there isnt anything to say. Of course it would be great if we live in utopia with endless free testing and could just isolate for ever more with no repercussions. But it is not the reality we have and whinging and being impractical wont help. If what testing we have can be focussed on the most likely Covid cases we stand a better chance at slowing the spread. Fever and fatigue are more common symptoms in severe infection than the cough.

@TooLittleTooLate80

Taken from the current government guidelines-
You can have a swab test to check if you have coronavirus (COVID-19) now.

Who can get a free test
You can only get a free NHS test if at least one of the following applies:

you have a high temperature
you have a new, continuous cough
you’ve lost your sense of smell or taste or it’s changed
you’ve been told to have a test before you go into hospital and you live in England
you’ve been asked to by a local authority
you’re taking part in a government pilot project
You can also get a test for someone you live with if they have symptoms

People seem to have lost all perspective on this. Realistically we can't eradicate the virus through testing, there are too many people that present asymptomatically and lab capacity is finite. OP's son may have had a cold AND Coronavirus. The two certainly aren't mutually exclusive but that doesn't mean everyone with a cold should be tested for Covid. I suspect a very high percentage of the children that are currently testing positive for Coronavirus have a runny nose and common cold symotoms. This is because virtually every child I know has a bloody runny nose etc at the moment irrespective of whether they have Covid or not.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland
This is not your job. Even the people whose job it is can’t get it right why do you think you can just do your own thing.

[quote ShouldWeChangeTheBulb]@FrangipaniBlue
It’s point number two if you have a new continuous cough get a test! It doesn’t say if you also have a runny nose don’t bother because it’s probably a cold.[/quote]
No you're right, but it doesn't say cough plus runny nose means get a test, which is what you said in an earlier post!

Just follow the guidance FGS and if doubt ring the helpline like I did.

But keep your beak out of what other people do. Too many people have far too much to say about what other people do or don't do, it's getting ridiculous.