Is it a cold.... or is it Covid?

[loveyouradvice]

I think a lot of people are going to be thinking this this autumn, given that the symptoms are now basically the same....

So, teenage daughter, flowing nose, headache, sore throat.....since today only

Lateral flow negative

Is that it? Or do we test again in a couple of days or what's the protocol now?

My slight cold was covid. Tested as office insisted

DD had sore throat and drippy nose. Only got tested when 3 days after seeing my DPs, they both got the more 'classic' symptoms. Got DD and DS tested as he had a croaky voice...both positive. In the meantime we'd been to a wedding, various activities and met up with friends. Infected about 8 people in total (presumably, but very likely!). The symptoms need updating!

Phew... now discovered how to get a PCR test... not easy or obvious if you don't have the three symptoms recognised by the NHS which she doesn't

Yes I am booking her in now - totally agree, and didn't know I could do this. As of course the NHS website says you can't.....

I went for a PCR this evening. Nobody checks whether you've got the symptoms, it's just a click on the booking screen. I had mine because I have been a close contact of a positive case (4 in fact, but because we were in a classroom I don't actually count as an official close contact 🤷). I also have a sore throat, headache and a runny nose. If it's a cold, as I think it is, I'll be back in school tomorrow. If it comes back as covid positive then I won't be. I hope the results come back before I head into school tomorrow, as it would be very embarrassing to get a positive result and have to leave in the middle of the day.

I booked via NHS site, which is what you are meant to go in our region ... and it does ask an awful lot of questions before giving you an appointment - including the three symptoms....

When DS had cold symptoms lateral flow was positive ours were negative. I just said I had a high temp to get the pcr. He was positive we were still negative but also double jabbed

@SweetBabyCheeses99 - not all sick people can stay at home. Who do you suggest teaches your kids when a teacher has a cold? Or treats you in hospital when a doctor has a cold? Or drives your train or bus? Or serves you in a restaurant? Colds are rife in winter, businesses & schools would be shut if every sick person stays at home 🙄

@loveyouradvice

I booked via NHS site, which is what you are meant to go in our region ... and it does ask an awful lot of questions before giving you an appointment - including the three symptoms....

I just lied. Better to lie to get a test than go around spreading Covid. A case of weighing up what the lesser evil is.

@SweetBabyCheeses99

A “cold” and covid needn’t be mutually exclusive. There’s no such distinct illness as a cold - it can be caused be over 200(!) different respiratory viruses - mainly rhinoviruses, parainfluenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus AND coronaviruses. A cold is defined by its symptoms, not by having a test. If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a…… Do you take 200 PCR tests every time you have a cold to find out which specific virus, strain and variant it was?! Sick people stay home, healthy people carry on as normal. Stop getting yourselves in a tizzy about testing.

I can't afford to stay off work if I have a standard cold, so yes I'll be testing. I wasn't particularly unwell with Covid, so I'd have been well enough to go into work if I hadn't done a test.

It could well be a cold. But I know lots of people who started with those symptoms. Personally I’d get a pcr to rule it out

waxonwaxoff

I just lied. Better to lie to get a test than go around spreading Covid. A case of weighing up what the lesser evil is.

This is exactly what I did - and found it tough doing so, in front of DD as truth has a high value in our household.

So - update... It is a bog standard, rather nasty, flu-like cold.... And I am really glad we did the PCR and I now know how the system works. So next time - and I imagine there will be several next times - I'll spring into action instantly.

Many thanks everyone on this board for advice - I know we would have been relying on a series of lateral flow tests otherwise, and feeling uneasy doing so

i had a cold last week, with a cough. Did 2 home tests and zoe app said i should do a test for their logging purposes. So ordered a home one, did that and posted it off, got negative results.

But i have minimised going out (as who wants to spread a cold anyway) and not entirely sure the difference between the 2 tests i did - as i administered both of them in the same way (throat then nose) so not sure how its much different?

It's the processing that's different @burnoutbabe. The swabbing is the same but the solution and processing is more accurate from the PCR tests (still not 100% accurate but better than the lft).
My PCR came back negative as well, so on Wednesday i didn't have covid. I have now been in a classroom with another 4 cases this week (they tested positive yesterday after I had taught them on Wednesday). I am assuming it's just a matter of time til I catch it.

Same situation here. 9yo ds with a bad headache, temperature and a bit of a sore throat. Negative antigen for both of us but have been told my a friend that because there are symptoms and antigen wouldn’t do (not quite sure of the reasons). Because I told school año it the temp they won’t accept him back until he has done a PCR so will go get one tomorrow.

In my school, year 6 child had the sniffles first day back, tested positive day 3 after a positive LF. They thought it was hayfever.
Having said that, after the first week we have a few colds knocking about too. Personally I think I would test to be sure. Hope all goes well OP.

Pcr definitely

The symptoms are very variable now and your DD has three symptoms. There is a lot to be gained from a test. I’m also testing my child tomorrow with less symptoms than yours.

What if our children have covid and then we send them to school and they pass it to a child with asthma or a child who gets long covid or passed it to an unvaccinated parent? I’m still not taking that chance and the test is free and not terrible.

What if our children have covid and then we send them to school and they pass it to a child with asthma or a child who gets long covid or passed it to an unvaccinated parent? I’m still not taking that chance and the test is free and not terrible

I’d always test as well. I wouldn’t want to presume it’s just a cold when there could be CEV children or adults affected by that decision. No one is able to tell the difference without a test.

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

What if our children have covid and then we send them to school and they pass it to a child with asthma or a child who gets long covid or passed it to an unvaccinated parent? I’m still not taking that chance and the test is free and not terrible

I’d always test as well. I wouldn’t want to presume it’s just a cold when there could be CEV children or adults affected by that decision. No one is able to tell the difference without a test.

Good job the OP has already taken her daughter for a PCR then, eh?

Pleased all is well.
I have woken up like this today and the lft says negative. There will be loads of back to school bugs flying around, one of which is of course covid. I don’t have any of the three supposedly “main” symptoms so given the negative lft will just carry on for now

Is bonkers though that you have to lie to get a test unless you have three specific symptoms where I thought it was pretty much proven That lots of people who get covid don’t have any!

I’ve just had a positive PCR from my routine testing. Interestingly my DD 11 has had a cold all week 2 LFT say negative done at school.
I now have cold symptoms sore throat and sneezing.
Have booked the PCR for the DD’s as procedure will be interesting to see if they do come back positive or if hers is just a standard cold. All very coincidental if it is though.