Should I do a PCR.

[Dandy008]

DS (18m) had a cough and temperature this week.

We took him for a Covid test which was negative.
I took him to the Drs as his chest sounded awful, turns out he has a chest infection and is on antibiotics. 😥

Yesterday I started with a dry throat, it felt tickly and was dry enough to make my eyes water.
I did cough but only because my throat was to tickly.
This morning I’ve woken up with a blocked nose.

I’m thinking it’s likely something I’ve caught from DS. I’ve done a lateral flow which is negative, but should I be booking a PcR?

Sorry if this is one of those silly questions, I’m a bit fed up of one of us in this house always having to do tests.😣

No, it's likely too early to test. You would get a negative result but if you tested a few days later you could get a positive result. I would wait and see how the symptoms develop. See how you are on Monday.

@nannynick

Thanks! Will hold off then.

How are your symptoms today... could be enough now to get a PCR.

@nannynick

A very heavy cold. Very runny nose and lots of sneezing.

No continuous cough, temp or loss of taste or smell so I don’t qualify for PCR.

I've known a few people with COVID where symptoms are like a heavy cold (no official COVID symptoms). So I'd be tempted to do a PCR, or keep repeating the LFTs (ours did show up on LFT but not in the first few days of symptoms - we'll never know if it would have shown up earlier on PCR or not!)

It could of course be just a cold though!

@DisappearingGirl

How far into your illness did it show positive on LFT?

If you log symptoms regularly on the Zoe Covid Symptom study app, then they may invite you for a PCR test.
covid.joinzoe.com/

How far into your illness did it show positive on LFT?

I had a headache and felt a bit nauseous for 2 days - negative LFT both days. Next day felt pretty much fine (I'm double jabbed) - but tested positive on LFT and then on PCR.

My partner (single jabbed) and my daughter tested positive 6 days later. Partner felt under the weather for maybe 2-3 days and tested negative on LFT, then next day tested positive on LFT then PCR. His symptoms were like a bad cold - he felt pretty rotten but no official COVID symptoms.

Once we were a few days into the illness, we both had a really definite line on the LFT (after a faint one).

Fingers crossed yours is just a cold!