Is a tickle you can suppress a reason to be tested?

[Threecouldbefour]

Hi,

Since yesterday I have had a tickle in my chest when I breath out. I very rarely cough, if at all. I can suppress it easily. I feel otherwise completely normal. I want to be responsible and get tested if necessary but equally don't want to waste a test if this doesn't count as a cough.

Please be kind - I'm just trying to figure out if I should be booking a test.

Thank you x

Im sure different people have different views but personally no I wouldn’t isolate and test just for what you have described

@Threecouldbefour

Hi,

Since yesterday I have had a tickle in my chest when I breath out. I very rarely cough, if at all. I can suppress it easily. I feel otherwise completely normal. I want to be responsible and get tested if necessary but equally don't want to waste a test if this doesn't count as a cough.

Please be kind - I'm just trying to figure out if I should be booking a test.

Thank you x

This is how mine started last weekend - I only really coughed if walking, otherwise the tickle was there but easy to suppress. I found it odd as never usually get any kind of tickly chest or cough. I got a test and it was positive.

Thank you for your reply. That's interesting. I had the same thing back in March after a trip to Switzerland - I had a tickle for 3 weeks and then it went.

How are you now? Have you felt unwell in yourself? Hope you are on the mend. X

No.

I dont you could suppress a continuous cough. You dont meet the symptoms needed for testing. So no I wouldn't het get tested.

I think the government's reasons for limiting tests to 3 key symptoms are valid, or we would all be testing all the time. A tickle could be COVID, yes, or it could be a normal cold, or some other kind of bug, or even an allergy or a reaction to the heating being on more. If you have reason to be particularly concerned about catching COVID, e.g. if you have a particular vulnerability, or live with someone who does, then I can understand testing in that scenario. For most people though, and for myself, I wouldn't.

I get the tickle you describe if I haven't taken my allergy tablet. It could of course be something else but I usually find after I've taken it the tickly feeling subsides. I prob wouldn't have a test for that alone but perhaps just monitor it and see if any other symptoms develop

I'd say yes if it's a tickle in your chest.

I currently have a tickle in my throat that's making me cough and I'm saying (to myself) that that's not really a cough but if yours originates in your chest I think you should isolate and test.

Mine started as a definite tickle, the coughing only came later. I’d test if I were you.

I had that, it never developed into a cough but shortly after I lost my sense of smell completely. This was before testing was available but I would say yes, it is worth testing.

I'd test, don't see it as wasting resources, but being mindful that in the event of it possibly being Covid, you've minimised spread.

Thank you for your opinions - I went for a test yesterday afternoon so we will see what comes.

Test was negative - but glad I checked and didn't risk spreading it. Thank you x

I've had that 'tickle' feeling at the back of my throat on and off since the summer. I had very bad hay fever this year so convince myself it's a residue from that.

Good news op.