Should we start doing tests for everyone with cold symptoms now?

[PregnantGotCovid]

I've been doing twice weekly lateral flow tests as I'm an hcp.

My test came back positive even though I had no Coronavirus symptoms. On the morning of the test, I had slight cold symptoms (sore throat and nasal congestion). Some of my colleagues have had similar experiences.

If I hadn't had a lateral flow test, I would have had no idea I had Coronavirus.

So is it time now to expand the general public testing criteria?

P.s. 4 days later, I still only have cold symptoms. Has anyone else started with cold symptoms and not developed into anything worse?

Know loads of people who thought they had a cold and were positive.

Only tested because other household member got typical symptoms.

You had a sore throat - in other countries where the governments care about deaths and are trying to prevent them sore throat gets s test anyway. Because it is a really common symptom of covid.

Sadly our shit failing testing system wouldn't cope probably if everyone with a sore throat went too.

Has anyone else started with cold symptoms and not developed into anything worse? This is very common, plenty of people I know (positive tests, not guesses)

This was exactly experience. I'm out of isolation now, and didn't have any of the typical COVID symptoms, but unfortunately I'm still experiencing chest pain, fatigue and dizziness. Though I was experiencing some of these by day 4, so hopefully you'll be ok.

Ds1 had COVID with just cold symptoms just before Christmas. We only picked him up because he gave it to me and I developed a cough as well. We both had a mild case.

And YY they should expand the list of symptoms and combination of symptoms that require a test butbthey won't.

I don't understand why they don't do this, yet they are mass testing people without any symptoms. Now the testing capacity is there why risk missing something when we know some people get less unusual symptoms.

Now the testing capacity is there it is partially there on PCR tests but it gets slower when busier.

@PregnantGotCovid my only “ill” symptoms were a cold (never worsened) the only reason I got a test was a sudden and total loss of smell. The whole rest of the family had a “cold” prior to this obviously never got anyone tested as no testing symptoms in hindsight I think I was probably the last one out of the four of us!

It seems to be the case on the school Facebook page. Lots of cold symptoms and positive tests.

Interesting. I use the Zoe app and on Monday when I’d been sneezing all day and feeling a bit “urgh”, I put these symptoms into the app and I then got an email saying that whilst I don’t need to self isolate, would I get a test. I’ve just sent it off today so I’ll wait and see. Maybe they are doing a study to see if sneezing is an early symptom?

Yes yes and yes. Look at how other countries are managing it. Where I live we are asked to test for any symptom and regularly. Our biggest threat is returning residents as our borders are closed but they must hotel quarantine for 14days.

Has the lateral flow test been followed up with a PCR test? I was reading an article earlier in the BMJ about how the lateral flow tests used for mass testing weren't suitable for the test to release programme because they weren't reliable enough.

My Dd (adult) tested positive early last week. She only went for the test because I nagged her to. She didn’t have any of the 3 main symptoms, so she basically had to say she had a high temperature to get the test. She had chills and a sore throat. She said it didn’t even feel like she had a cold, she just felt a little run down. I suspect loads of people are walking around thinking they just have a cold when they have covid. Her partner tested positive earlier this week. Also very mild symptoms. Both have a BMI in the obese range.

Yup this was my family's experience a month ago.

If I had been tested every time I'd had cold symptoms in the last 10 months I'd have had about 2 tests a month. Even at the beginning of this week I had a runny nose but put it down to running in the cold air (and it went away in less than 24 hours). I've had lots of sore throats.

I know in a very very few cases you can get covid twice - but every month - I really don't think so!

I think so. Covid has been doing the rounds at my workplace so quite a few people have decided to get tests without the 3 classic symptoms. One tested positive and his only symptoms were feeling a bit achy and tired, another tested positive and all he had was a headache.

Tbh I think most people who have any cold symptoms now are going for covid tests, people realise the list of symptoms on the app isn't exhaustive. I know lots of people who've had sore throat/stuffy nose etc and have just ticked the yes box to get tested (and been positive)

I have heard of at least 1 person testing positive with cold symptoms. It’s a difficult area, because if everyone went for a test that has a cold there would be a shortage of tests again! I sent DH for a test when his cold turned into a cough, it was negative.

This worries me because 1/2 my work place have had a cold then got a fever but not tested because it was a symptom of the cold. I isolated and got a test because it got a cough out of nowhere and while my boss didn’t make a fuss he couldn’t really understand why I wasn’t in work.

A cold doesn't usually cause a fever in my experience.

I have now had 3 negative tests because of Zoe sending me with cold symptoms. Obviously doesn't mean that some people won't be positive but I doubt everybody could be tested

@LizzieSiddal

Interesting. I use the Zoe app and on Monday when I’d been sneezing all day and feeling a bit “urgh”, I put these symptoms into the app and I then got an email saying that whilst I don’t need to self isolate, would I get a test. I’ve just sent it off today so I’ll wait and see. Maybe they are doing a study to see if sneezing is an early symptom?

The Zoe study has been looking at different symptoms ever since this all kicked off in March. I think they were early to pick up the loss of smell and taste as a major predictor of Covid.

My DD and DS both had it after Christmas with theIr dad and steP-mum. Ex DP had all the cLassic symptoms and was very breathless, still has the cough now. Step-mum had what would nOrmally be a bad cold. DD had headaches and fatigue and DS had a fever for 48 hOurs. So strange how it effects people sO differently.

I think the list of symptoms should increase now we have more capacity and definitely include sore throat.
@Unsuremover NHS 111 told me colds don’t produce a fever when I rung in October about poorly dc.
@puffinkoala if that was me having cold symptoms so frequently think I’ll up my vitamin c and other vitamins and/or look into allergies. I think adults are likely to get between 2 and 5 colds a year.

A local school back in autumn said ANY illness whatsoever pupils are not to come in.
They had 5 cases, only symptom was upset stomach
11 cases with cold like symptom
7 cases asymptomatic

So that's 23 in one school where none of the main symptoms were present.
(I didn't know why they tested but I've seen their newsletter as dd used to attend there)

They then had multiple staff become ill.

So yes I think it could be a good idea.

I think they should.