Does the mucus have to turn yellow/brown to be concerned about a cough in a 2yo?

[Return2thebasic]

My LO started coughing from Monday morning. It got more frequent and disturbing everyday. Last night he started running a lowish fever. I gave him Calpol and Nerophane (in turn) to keep the temperature down. But the coughs are really disturbing him. Sometimes he'd have a bout of coughing last a few minutes and found it really annoying.

I wondered if he shall see the GP. But I'm really hesitant for bringing him to the surgery unless he really needs. DH says it's not infection as his mucus from nose is clear and it's not chesty cough. But imynot sure about it. Certainly wouldn't want it turn into nasty pnaumonia or something. Is DH right about it? When does he need to see a doctor?

I forgot to mention we tested him with the home testing kit (lateral flow). The result is negative.

He needs a PCR test as he has symptoms. LFT are only if you have no symptoms.

Are you all isolating?

@ineedaholidaynow

Are you all isolating?

Why? We are not aware any of us has been a close contact to a positive case. All go in isolation because a toddler has cold symptoms?

@UncomfortableSilence

He needs a PCR test as he has symptoms. LFT are only if you have no symptoms.

I can order a CPR but it would take quite a long time to receive the kit plus the time to post it/receive result. I remember some test only valid during the first few days. Wouldn't we be too late?

If you order tonight it will likely arrive tomorrow. Send it back the same day, you'll have the result likely the day after.
And yes, a cough with any member of the family should have triggered isolation pending a PCR test result.

All go in isolation because a toddler has cold symptoms?

No you go in isolation because your toddler has Covid symptoms

Yes isolation.

Yes pcr.

How has the message not got through????

I didn't realise the guideline says "if you live with someone who has symptom" should isolate too! Bother! None of us has been out of the door since Tuesday anyway! (I did ds1 on Monday too when he had complained sore throat when lo started coughing - negative too and he's been absolutely fine since. That's why my gut feeling it is not covid.)

Just doing LFT myself (no symptom) and ordering a PCR for the lo.

@Return2thebasic how did you not know everyone in the same house had to isolate if someone in the house had symptoms. This has been the rule for months

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/when-to-self-isolate-and-what-to-do/

LFTs are not suitable for use when symptomatic.

A cough has literally been the primary symptom of Covid since this all began. So has isolating if you live with someone who is symptomatic.

[quote ineedaholidaynow]@Return2thebasic how did you not know everyone in the same house had to isolate if someone in the house had symptoms. This has been the rule for months[/quote]
I don't know why I didn't get the message! DS2 went to nursery on Monday. I wasn't sure and even mentioned to the teacher that he has coughs. She asked me "why are you telling me this?" and then let the LO go in.

Sorry, I don't think the line has been clear to everyone as you think. I alway understood there needs to be at least two symptoms from the very beginning. Coughing is a common thing easily happens, especially at that young age.

With ds1, I never got that message from school if a child coughs and he needs to go home self isolate before a negative result. Kids went to school with runny nose and a bit cough. Nobody was sent home for that. His school only had 4 cases of bubble closure all in all. Managed just alright imo.

LO's nursery has been careful. It's not that they never bothered. Just the reality is half of the children have all sorts of issues when the reopenning happened. All sorts of bugs usually only prevail in winter. They had to decide to not run the summer camp for the entire summer as there were too many disruptions to everyone's life whenever someone got ill.

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@alanabsdnsja

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@alanabsdnsja, thanks for the support! People like me are stupid. Are you happy? Very helpful, wise woman!

DH has been working from home for over a year. I have not been at work since my maternity leave. We followed the lockdown rules last year with the best efforts as we could. Thankfully we had never needed to realise what we missed in reading the rules - nobody had any illness until this month!

I haven't seen my family abroad for 2 years and don't know when I could see them again (my mum is nearly 80.) DS 1 has lost over a year of school life. With the homeschooling and the stress of pandemic/lockdown, I really don't need you @alanabsdnsja to educate me about my level of intelligence!

I have a toddler who struggles to stay asleep in bed because of the annoying cough. I slept less than 3 hours last night to back and forth running into LO's room to comfort him. REALLY? To have someone to insult me is not what I need! Thanks. Please go somewhere else with your wisdom!

Did the school not put reminders of what you need to do if someone has symptoms (and you only need one symptom to have to test and isolate) in their newsletters?

Back to your original question @return2thebasic - in general with a young child I would seek GP appointment when/if any laboured breathing or if they are lethargic or not eating/drinking/wetting a nappy. A fever in and of itself is not a problem, nor is a lot of mucus or a cough (usually) but any difficulty breathing or generally unwell, give GP a call or 111. 999 if floppy/unresponsive. And if in doubt, a GP has never been annoyed at me bringing in my DC when very young.

But for now unfortunately, as you know now!, a covid test is needed. Still more likely not covid but it's the responsible thing to do.

Colds are miserable in little ones.

I really am not trying to be rude but we’ve been in this nearly a year and a half and you don’t know the very very basic rules? Like the ones that have been in place throughout. 🤯 sorry but it’s so irresponsible, as parents too.

Really hope your dc is ok and the PCR comes back negative.

@PaddleBlue

I really am not trying to be rude but we’ve been in this nearly a year and a half and you don’t know the very very basic rules? Like the ones that have been in place throughout. 🤯 sorry but it’s so irresponsible, as parents too.

Really hope your dc is ok and the PCR comes back negative.

Really enough people have said exactly what you said already. Do you really feel the NEED/URGE to repeat this? What's the goal of repeating what others said already? For your own satisfaction being the other side of wise people?

@Griefmonster

Back to your original question *@return2thebasic* - in general with a young child I would seek GP appointment when/if any laboured breathing or if they are lethargic or not eating/drinking/wetting a nappy. A fever in and of itself is not a problem, nor is a lot of mucus or a cough (usually) but any difficulty breathing or generally unwell, give GP a call or 111. 999 if floppy/unresponsive. And if in doubt, a GP has never been annoyed at me bringing in my DC when very young.

But for now unfortunately, as you know now!, a covid test is needed. Still more likely not covid but it's the responsible thing to do.

Colds are miserable in little ones.

Thank you, @Griefmonster.

If the lateral flow test was negative, the pcr will almost certainly be negative as well (lfd does "work" if you have symptoms, in fact it should work better as you'd assume that your the viral load would be higher with symptoms than without. But still pcr is the more accurate test so you should really get that done)

Covid aside, I wouldn't look for any one specific thing in an unwell child. If you feel they're a "different sort of unwell" than you've seen before, then you would sensible to at least phone a Dr (once you've got the pcr results through, as that will be the first thing they ask you!) Colour of mucus is a bit irrelevant really- if the child is getting worse rather than better then they might have picked up an ear/throat infection. Trust your instincts, don't let your husband talk you out of calling a Dr if you're worried x