Are people still getting non-COVID viruses?

[Frazzledstar1]

Been feeling a bit unwell with a scratchy throat so been doing LF tests for 5 days in a row now, all negative so far. Cough has turned wet/chesty (little bit of phlegm coming up - sorry tmi) and now I have a slightly raised temperature. Is it possible that I’ve caught a regular old cold virus, or should I be waiting for the positive LF to appear?

About 1 month ago I was feeling crappy with a raised fever and I’d travelled abroad so had received fit to fly tests and day 2 tests etc and all negative. So I’m hopeful this is just a cold. Can anyone offer me some positive vibes? I have a Christmas trip planned and I’d hate to miss it

Not a virus, but DS announced last night that he spotted threadworms in his poop. I really can't comprehend how on earth he managed to pick this up from school given that he reports the overwhelming majority of his school day is spent queueing for hand washing.

Of course they are, wouldnt it be great if Covid 19 was finally the cure for the common cold

The man from the Zoe study was on the radio this morning and although he wasn't entirely clear I think he was saying that only around 1 in 4 virus infections are covid.

They've been going on for months about how normal winter viruses will hit with a vengence this year, I think probably since last winter in fact

Yes, of course. I had a bad cold a few weeks ago, felt rough for a couple of days, that's all. The grandchildren had a vomiting bug a couple of weeks ago - they vomited 2 or 3 times each, felt unwell for 24 hours.

My two year old alone has had a long list of viruses recently…

Conjunctivitis
Cold/cough
Sickness bug
Temp and cold ending in an ear infection.

It’s just never ending!!

Yes whole house had a cold but all tests negative

Yes we've had loads of non COVID illnesses. In fact, my youngest's room at nursery has just closed due to insufficient staffing as so many are off ill, not with COVID.

You've had symptoms. You should be taking a PCR not a lateral flow.

But yes. Weve all had a cold. PCRs all negative

You should be isolating and getting a PCR

LFT are not to be used regarding symptoms

How do people not know this?????? Especially with Omicron symptoms being a bit different.

I have an absolutely dreadful cough, the ones that keep you awake at night and need me to keep my legs crossed when coughing. It is not covid though.

Yes. I've had a horrendous cold for the past 5-6 weeks. I still feel like crap. Negative PCRs and LFTs so it's not Covid apparently.
Various family members have had a light cold a few times in the last couple of months.

wait, there are other illnesses? wtaf?

Take a PCR.

That said I've had a PCR post symptoms. Still neg. LFT all negative.
DH is similar.

We do know close contacts who have non-covid illnesses in the last fortnight and work at covid-fortified premises and have also come back repeatedly negative (again with symptoms).

Chances of all these being false negatives are slim.

You need to take a PCR as you have a cough! For goodness sake.

Yes there are other illnesses going round, I had one last month but I took a PCR which you need to do, you can't rely on LFTs. I did have Covid in August but it did not show positive on LFT, only the PCR did.

I’ve got the same symptoms, waiting on a PCR.

New cough and a raised temperature you shouldn’t be relying on an LFT.

Can someone explain to me what LFTs are for then? Is it to detect asymptomatic Covid?

@Handholdtoday

Can someone explain to me what LFTs are for then? Is it to detect asymptomatic Covid?

Yes. They're used to catch asymptomatic cases that would otherwise go undetected. But they're not incredibly reliable, so if you have symptoms you need to get a PCR which is more accurate.

I have had the worst cough I have ever had for the last two weeks, and a raised temperature. But PCR was negative. So probably just another nasty virus.

How soon after having a PCR can you have another one? Or would you say the negative PCR is pretty conclusive?

Thanks everyone, yes sounds like I should book a PCR then. I just presumed a LF test would pick up the virus. DP had covid about 2 months ago and LFT came up positive about 2-3 days after symptoms started so I presumed that would be fine for me to do. I should probably brush up on the guidance too as I’m clearly out of touch!

Yep DD had to be tested last week due to a cough, quite a bad cough to be fair, but it was negative so just just be a cold

Yes as an early measure to try to catch some asymptomatic cases that would otherwise go undetected.

PCR for people who are concerned they may actually have covid

Currently on my second. Bin full of used LFTs

My little girl is on the verge of being hospitalised with covid symptoms that are not covid 🤷‍♀️( she's had 6 negative pcrs and is on the final day of her third different kind of antibiotics 😩.
So yep definitely other Illnesses doing the rounds

I hope so. I have had a cold for a couple of days now. 3 negative LFT and currently awaiting the results of a PCR taken earlier today.

When I did get Covid in July it was the LFT that picked it up first. They can still detect Covid even with symptoms, but PCR's are more reliable. Its not like LFT are always wrong even with symptoms.

Both now and back in July I did not have any of the official symptoms the government lists, but knew that list wasn't to be trusted completely so tested anyway. Just fingers are crossed that my PCR from today is negative so I can continue with life and my Christmas plans with the family.

100%

Was absolutely wiped last weekend. Got a PCR on Thursday as I had Covid type symptoms
Negative result on Friday
Spent four days hacking my lungs up and feeling shite.
Better today!