If the symptoms go away

[catpoooffender]

DS (2) is prone to coughs, and has developed a new one yesterday. Coughed quite a lot since then. Also has a runny nose but no fever. If relevant, he had the flu vaccine on Saturday.

I don't think for a moment it's COVID (I think he had it in March) but have ordered a home testing kit.

My question is this: IF he stops coughing today (his coughs can be quite short lived), would you send him to nursery tomorrow?
I think I know the answer (he should self-isolate even if symptoms go away quickly) but he's only been back two weeks after having to self isolate for two weeks because another child in his room at nursery tested positive. Also, DS frequently gets short-lived coughs. I can't bear for this to keep happening all winter!

[quote catpoooffender]@SoUtterlyGroundDown I think you do see what's illogical here, you're just being obtuse. If the symptoms go, you're not symptomatic. Do you order a test still? All the guidance refers to what day of symptoms you're on. My son doesn't currently (as predicted), have symptoms. What's making it look clear cut to you is that I ordered a test. If I hadn't, things might be less clear.[/quote]
I’m not being at all obtuse.
Yes it’s inconvenient. Yes it’s shit. I can see that you’re very frustrated by it. We all are. I have three young children so three times the chances of having to isolate.
Your child has a cough, a high temperature or loss of sense of taste/smell... you test them and isolate until the result comes back. Symptoms subsiding after 24 hours does not mean it isn’t Covid.
It’s actually really quite simple.

If the symptoms go, you're not symptomatic. Do you order a test still?

Yes, because you have displayed symptoms. I can’t see anywhere in the guidance where it says ‘if your symptoms subside, you can ignore them’.

A family member, 5 year old child only had symptoms for less than 24 hours. The test was still positive so just because symptoms don’t last very long doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not Covid

@SoUtterlyGroundDown again, I know what the rules are. As you say, they're quite simple. What I'm saying is that the approach is illogical. Hence I'm wondering what others would do in this situation. My son frequently gets a cough for 24 hours. And yet I have to disrupt everything every time it happens. I know it's the same for everyone. Equally I know that plenty of very sensible people will make their own call in these situations.

[quote catpoooffender]@SoUtterlyGroundDown again, I know what the rules are. As you say, they're quite simple. What I'm saying is that the approach is illogical. Hence I'm wondering what others would do in this situation. My son frequently gets a cough for 24 hours. And yet I have to disrupt everything every time it happens. I know it's the same for everyone. Equally I know that plenty of very sensible people will make their own call in these situations.[/quote]
Ok, so if the approach is illogical, what do you suggest? Symptoms have to last for a particular amount of time for you need to test? I’m honestly not sure what you’re looking for.

@SoUtterlyGroundDown oh really? You don't know what I'm looking for? Well OK if I'm honest, I'd like for COVID to go away. Failing that, I'd like rapid testing. Failing that, I'd like to know how other people plan to approach this dilemma over winter. Hence my question.

You don't need to be sanctimonious. This is a shit enough situation as it is.

You know what? Fuck off. I responded to your thread in good faith. You said the approach was illogical... I asked what approach you’d prefer.
You’ve got a fucking monster of a bee in your bonnet. Yes it’s shit. Yes I’ve had to isolate because my DD had a 24 hour cough. I’d like to say it caused me difficulties with work, but as I’ve lost my job due to Covid (unviable industry apparently 🤷🏻‍♀️), sadly it didn’t matter at all. So piss off with your ‘sanctimonious’. You’re not the only one it’s hard for.

@SoUtterlyGroundDown OK this thread has clearly touched a nerve with you. You've had a shit time too but let's not pretend you've been all sweetness and light, with your passive aggressive emojis. Perhaps we should all just move on.

Yes, damn those passive aggressive emojis. So damaging.
Yes let’s call it quits.

My question is this: IF he stops coughing today (his coughs can be quite short lived), would you send him to nursery tomorrow?
I think I know the answer (he should self-isolate even if symptoms go away quickly) but he's only been back two weeks after having to self isolate for two weeks because another child in his room at nursery tested positive.

You weren't asking because you were curious what other people would do.
You were looking for justification of not following the guidance because he's only been back two weeks and it's not a desirable situation.

Symptoms going away doesn't mean Covid has gone and that the patient is no longer infectious hence the term asymptomatic spread.

The guidance is to test for one of the three symptoms and isolate so that’s exactly what I would (and have) done. Even though my DP disagreed, was highly pissed off and ultimately proven right on this occasion. It’s particularly hard with children since a lot of the research says they don’t present the same way as adults and it’s likely to be mild but that doesn’t mean it’s not important to break a chain of transmission.

This is going to be how life looks for a while. I sympathise about feeling like your asking a lot from work, mine are highly unsympathetic whilst dp’s are actually pretty flexible, but there’s a much bigger picture and repercussions at play.

Hopefully you’re in an area with a quick turn around on tests and get a negative result so you only lose a few days rather than two weeks.

@AbstractDot

My question is this: IF he stops coughing today (his coughs can be quite short lived), would you send him to nursery tomorrow? I think I know the answer (he should self-isolate even if symptoms go away quickly) but he's only been back two weeks after having to self isolate for two weeks because another child in his room at nursery tested positive.

You weren't asking because you were curious what other people would do.
You were looking for justification of not following the guidance because he's only been back two weeks and it's not a desirable situation.

Symptoms going away doesn't mean Covid has gone and that the patient is no longer infectious hence the term asymptomatic spread.

I'm not sure that those two things are very different. The circumstances I am in are hardly going to be unique for people with young children. So I'm asking how others would/have approach(ed) this.

Furthermore I don't need justification from posters on MN. This isn't a court case and you're not my defence team.

I feel for you Al with young children. This winter is going to be a nightmare for coughs colds etc, like every other year. But of course now it's isolation for 2 weeks if they have covid, which probably will hardly affect them. And 2 weeks at home with young kids must be bloody hard going.

You want to know what others would do...

Self-isolate whole family until test comes back negative. That's what we would do.

I would be getting to a test centre, not waiting for a home test. Much, much speedier.

The symptom is a constant persistent cough. I question whether that's what your DS had. If it went away in a day, that doesn't sound constant or persistent.

@catpoooffender

Failing that, I'd like to know how other people plan to approach this dilemma over winter. Hence my question.

I plan on isolating the household if one of us develop symptoms, and having symptomatic household member(s) tested.
As we've had to do 3 times since March - once for two weeks as no testing available, once for a few days each time as one child waiting for a test result.

I bet you are the type to be on here in a few weeks creating merry hell cos Sandra from round the corner sent her brat to nursery with Covid.

@bobbiester

You want to know what others would do...

Self-isolate whole family until test comes back negative. That's what we would do.

Thank you for telling me what you would do.

[quote DumplingsAndStew]@catpoooffender

Failing that, I'd like to know how other people plan to approach this dilemma over winter. Hence my question.

I plan on isolating the household if one of us develop symptoms, and having symptomatic household member(s) tested.
As we've had to do 3 times since March - once for two weeks as no testing available, once for a few days each time as one child waiting for a test result.

I bet you are the type to be on here in a few weeks creating merry hell cos Sandra from round the corner sent her brat to nursery with Covid.[/quote]
I very much enjoy the 'i bet you're the type who' responses. They're amongst my favourite.

My LG 5 had first flu shot last year that night she had side effects it included high temp an cough lasted 24hrs shes due it again on mon an ive been wondering about this what happens if she has same side effects am gonna ask school this week id rather wait an try get hers in half term than have her isolate the last week of school because of side effects.

@SoUtterlyGroundDown

If the symptoms go, you're not symptomatic. Do you order a test still?

Yes, because you have displayed symptoms. I can’t see anywhere in the guidance where it says ‘if your symptoms subside, you can ignore them’.

This. Yes it’s crap having to potentially do multiple tests I’ve the coming months but that’s the reality of it. There’s been a lot written about kids have different or less severe symptoms. This could mean that they have a cough or fever for a day and then get better. But the fact is they’ve still had the symptom and should be tests and self isolate until the result.

@catpoooffender I'd definitely wait for the test results, it's crap I know but sometimes tests have a super quick turnaround so you could be lucky.

My DD's result came in 24 hours and it was a home test.

Good luck.

What would I do? Self isolate the household until he gets a negative test result. My son had a temp for a few hours overnight on the Thurs Early hours/am which went away after a few hours and before I could book him a test. However I booked one anyway. He started coughing on the Fri the day of the test. We both isolated until we got the negative result.

Yes it is a pta that we may be doing this numerous times over winter but we just have to do it.

IMO coughs happen for many reasons with kids . But if you get to the point of ordering a test then yes you need to isolate until you get your results.

@Planty13

IMO coughs happen for many reasons with kids . But if you get to the point of ordering a test then yes you need to isolate until you get your results.

Why do you say that Planty? About getting to the point of ordering a test? What do you think that signifies? Because I have OCD, especially about health-related things and thus don't always trust my judgement.