Woken up with a sore throat but not one of the main symptoms

[Mogtheforgetfulmum]

I'm a secondary teacher. We have had several positive cases, I only posted a couple of days ago that we weren't being told when students in our classes had tested positive. I've woken up this morning with a very noticeable sore throat which hurts when I swallow. You can also hear my chest sounds bad when I take a deep breath. I'm surprised to see that on the nhs app a sore throat isn't one of the 3 main symptoms, but the WHO states that 'The virus can cause a range of symptoms, from ranging from mild illness to pneumonia. Symptoms of the disease are fever, cough, sore throat and headaches'.

Basically my question is should I be ringing school, setting cover and isolating?? We are already so understaffed I don't want to look like a time waster. I'm also totally perplexed as to how I even managed to get a 'sore throat' in the first place. I've been wearing a mask in the corridors and sanitising my hands constantly.

A rattling chest could be chest infection and may need antibiotics. I would ring 111 and see what they suggest you do.

I'm amazed at the number of people who would request a test despite not having the three main symptoms. I realise test and trace has its problems but I don't assume I know more than the scientists who put together the symptoms as criteria for testing!

Forgot to add - not only does the OP need to isolate if waiting for a result, but also the rest if her household too.

Stay at home. I know of someone recently testing positive with ‘cold’ symptoms and another after being dizzy. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

The test and trace criteria is there to limit numbers because of capacity issues, not because most people have one of those symptoms- they don't. A study showed yesterday that nearly 90% of positive people didn't have one of the three symptoms on the day they tested and 75% never had them. Many were either asymptomatic or just had other symptoms such as a headache.

The sooner test and trace stops pretending symptoms are the thing, the sooner that we will get a really good testing service that actually picks up cases! The reason for the very high numbers in university towns is they've been doing some asymptomatic contact testing.

Sorry you are ill OP, I wouldn't go in today actually, and if you can get a test great.

I realise the op has a sore throat but testing asymptomatic people is not a good idea. We will get a large number of false positives simply by chance.

www.kcl.ac.uk/news/six-distinct-types-of-covid-19-identified a sore throat is most certainly a symptom. I work in care and we have to quarantine the whole group for sore throat plus any one other symptom (esp headache, cough or fever - but any, not all) until we have a negative test (2 days usually).

The OP isn't asymptomatic though, she has one of the things that other criteria like the WHO list suggest are on there, just not the one kept by the UK gov't which has been shown to be out of date. OP you could call 111 or use the app and see what they advise.

My ds had just a sore throat last week and the school told me I could still send him. I kept him off a couple of days to make sure it didn't develop into a cough, but they didn't ask me to do that.

Think I'd stay off today just to be on the safe side and ideally get a test. I also would work through a lot but since there are cases in your school and these aren't normal times, I'd err on the side of caution.

You won't necessarily have a cough or fever with symptomatic covid-19. The consistent symptoms identified most recently are headache and loss of sense of smell/ taste. Along with those there will be other symptoms but which ones vary. Sore throat is one. The early symptoms do indicate the likely path of the illness according to the most recent studies.

@MargotLovedTom1

Can u imagine being positive and passing it on to a child who lives with his elderly grandparents suffering from diabetes etc.

That's the risk that child takes being in school unfortunately - they will be surrounded by hundreds of other students who may well be positive but asymptomatic, and those students are probably more likely to be up close and personal than an teacher.

CodenameVillanelle - someone waiting for the results of a test should be isolating, not carrying on as normal.

OP: you're probably getting a cold.

That's a grey area - if she's getting a test without having the 3 main symptoms then she doesn't need to isolate, but technically she shouldn't be getting a test either 🤷🏼‍♀️

I've got confirmed covid and started with a tight throat - by that I mean it felt like if you rested your own hand around your throat, so a bit heavy and tight. Didn't hurt when I swallowed but my voice went funny the next day.

In fact I've not had any main symptoms but got tested as felt 'off' and had babysat a friend's baby and the next day she came down with covid symptoms then was tested positive.

You could explain what you're feeling and that others have started with these symptoms - perhaps extra SD if you have to go in as you don't technically need to isolate at the moment!

Of course you could just lie to the school and say you have a temperature with your sore throat, if you think they will be arsey about you isolating until you get results.

It's a sore throat.

Ok, I suppose it might be Covid but it's very probable it's not and it's just a common or garden sore throat.

Normally I would say crack on but in these strange times, I'd consider ringing in sick and take a day or so to see if it gets any worse. Your call.

As for advice to ring 111 etc, come on! It's a sore throat. Take paracetamol, lozenges, vitamin C.

People will be suggesting ringing 999 next.

it sounds chesty/tight when I breathe in.

There is an epidemic of a virus that causes acute respiratory syndrome and there are people on this thread suggesting that someone with symptoms of a respiratory infection go into work? Jesus fucking Christ.

Stay at home. Get medical advice. Make it clear that your breathing is compromised. You'll probably be recommended to get a test.

My daughter is at Uni and currently has Covid. Her first symptom was a sore throat so I would advise that you stay at home and get tested.

Anecdotal evidence doesn't supercede the government requirements for getting a test! Rightly or wrongly you are only allowed to book a test with one or more of the three main symptoms.

If you were a teacher of one of my DC I'd want you to stay home. I'd also trust what the WHO say over our government advice

I'd ring in sick and get a test on the basis of your chest.

A colleague of mine was sent for a test by GP because of breathlessness. I would stay off today and ring GP for advice. Hope you feel better soon.

[quote Mogtheforgetfulmum]@thaegumathteth it sounds chesty/tight when I breathe in. My DH can hear it too and he's quite oblivious to a lot. Something I've had lots before when I've been ill but comcerning right now.

@StealthPolarBear I feel ok but I'm very concerned about passing this on. One of my colleagues has a very sick, vulnerable child and I work with several colleagues who are vunerable and were shielding when it was ongoing.[/quote]
I think based on vulnerable colleagues I'd stay home . You are ill and passing on anything to them Covid or not would not be ideal.

My DD has a humdinger of a cold. Sore throat, headache, blocked sinuses, sneezing. Looks exactly like a cold.

She tested positive yesterday.

I would go to work with a sore throat, but it sounds like you are unwell with it. Covid or no
Covid, if you are feeling unwell stay at home. I expect it’s difficult for teachers to have an “off day”’at work like people in other professions can have so stay in bed.

Dhs first symptom was really sore throat so much so GP thought tonsillitis. No other symptoms. I’m vulnerable so we paid for Dh to be tested & it was positive. Cough & temperature followed a 3 days later.