Coughing child

[SS80]

Morning all.
I have a dilemma. I have a coughing 5yr old. She’s testing negative on LFT. I want to keep her at home today and get a PCR test. I think that’s the reasonable and sensible thing to do. However my partner is insisting we send her to school. He says he doesn’t want her to miss school because of a sniffle. I find the thought of taking her to school with a bad cough excruciating. I just think school will call us straight away to come and pick her up. We generally have very different views on how to manage coughs/COVID symptoms and it’s causing arguments. I just want to follow the government/school guidelines. Whenever I try to discuss it with him he just gets angry.
Any thoughts on how to manage this?

What kind of cough is it? Is it continuous and non-chesty?

Is your partner prepared to pick her up? because the school will call within the hour and insist on a negative pcr before she is allowed back. I can see your partners thinking but what I've just written will happen despite a negative lft.

I think schools will be on high alert after the press conference on Saturday. So any consistent cough, parents will be called to collect.

Lateral flows are for when there are no symptoms. pCR is for symptoms - isn't it?

Firstly I’d be considering my life with someone who gets angry when they don’t get their own way, compromise and conversation is always best.
Then I’d be taking her for a PCR. But if you don’t want to go against your DP I’d ring school early and ask for advice. I’m pretty sure I know what that advice will be.

Doesn’t matter what sort of cough, if it is new and it sounds like she is coughing a few times, she needs a PCR

Does it fit the NHS description of coughs that need to be tested.

I have tested my DCs for coughs. Most of them would probably not fit the NHS description but was new and unusual.

Most have tended to be overnight and disappeared as soon as I booked the test. (As many coughs do when you have been up for a while).

Last time DS ended up missing 2 days of school which was frustrating as he was perfectly well.

I provable would still err on the side of caution, but I can understand why some people wouldn't.

Our school won’t let you in with any sign illness at the moment until you have spoken to school first. Any cough you wouldn’t be allowed to send child in without a negative PCR.

I tested my 4 year old last night on a home testing kit and it was hell. It came back negative. She has a bit of a cough, no temperature and Ive asked her if she feels well enough and she said yes. I'm happy to pick up if the school ring. I can't face the trauma of testing for every cough/cold symptom.

Exactly. I agree with everyone. But he won’t listen to reason.

I’m sure school will send her straight back and you’ll all look bad.

I sent 5 kids home last week for all coughing, with only a LFT, my opinion about their family has gone down

You’re right it needs a PCR Test!
How has your partner gone through nearly 2 years of this without knowing or following this?

I would also not want to continue a relationship with someone who Cannot follow reason nor gets angry when you try to discus it.
Your opinion matters op! It is also right

You can't send her in with a cough. She needs a PCR. It is a symptom that requires one.

You’re absolutely right to want to test her, your DH is ostriching.

Tests don’t take long to come back and for the sake of a day or two you could potentially avoid starting an outbreak in her class.

Nearly two years in. How can people still not know this? Your partner is an idiot.

Book at pcr and keep her off.

@SS80

Exactly. I agree with everyone. But he won’t listen to reason.

So what happens if you keep her off and get her tested? Is he likely to take her in?

If not, just keep her off and get her tested. He can pull a face all he wants.

I thought testing for the three main symptoms was a legal requirement not a guideline. Just take her to be tested and if she is negative she will be back tomorrow.