Covid vs. Cold? How can you tell?

[Anonymous]

DS10 and DD6 have been sneezing all morning. They feel fine, just sneezy and stuffy. Under normal circumstances, I would say, "this is a cold". But is it irresponsible to assume so, these days? Should I get them tested?

I did take them on Tuesday to the pediatrician for flu shots. They ended up getting the Flu Mist spray. They seemed okay on Wednesday, just a little more sneezy. But today's it's super sneezy. Maybe that's part of the Flu Mist?

But still...test or not?

[Anonymous]

I don’t think sneezing is a sign of corona.

[Anonymous]

Sneezing is the one symptom that I think is clearly not covid. But I’d still stay home until the active cold symptoms abate.

[Anonymous]

It’s probably the flu mist. Only way to know for sure is to get them tested. Given the likelihood of a reaction from the flu mist, I would hold off on testing a couple days (unless they’re engaging in in-person activities) to see if symptoms subside in the expected timeframe.

[Anonymous]

My kid is going back to school soon and I’m dreading this scenario!

My plan is to keep him home until sneezing and runny nose stop. I also am going to order a home covid test kit - expensive but I think it will give me peace of mind. I asked the pediatrician, and she said to call her for anything I wasn’t sure about, and indicated that we just aren’t going to really know what is what.

Anyway, the fact that they started sneezing right after the flu vax strongly suggests they got whatever it is at the dr office. If it’s “just” a cold, could also be covid. So I’d keep them home for a while.

[Anonymous]

OP here: Oh, yes. Definitely keeping them home until the sneezing stops. Don't worry about that!

But although today is my telework day, tomorrow is my into-the-workplace day. Do we all need to stay home until the sniffles subside, in case it is Covid?

Thanks for helping me work through. THis is the first time I wasn't absolutely convinced that we were dealing with allergies during the pandemic.

[Anonymous]

The only sure way to know is to test.

Numbers are on the rise everywhere and that likely means plenty of people with extremely mild or no symptoms are unwittingly transmitting.

[Anonymous]

My kids has the same reaction to the flu mist. My younger one also got a fever. Call pediatrician to confirm but ours told us to be prepared for lots of sneezing and possible fever.

[Anonymous]

Our pediatrician told us that sneezing or nasal congestion alone isn’t a sign of Covid. If there’s a fever involved, then it may be covid...or the flu...or a cold...etc. no way to tell without testing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: Oh, yes. Definitely keeping them home until the sneezing stops. Don't worry about that!

But although today is my telework day, tomorrow is my into-the-workplace day. Do we all need to stay home until the sniffles subside, in case it is Covid?

Thanks for helping me work through. THis is the first time I wasn't absolutely convinced that we were dealing with allergies during the pandemic.

My DD goes to a private, we do a health screening each day with a bunch of questions. Under their guidelines, you would be cleared to go to school in this set of circumstances.

[Anonymous]

I am PP. your kids wouldn’t be cleared to go to school - but you would.

[Anonymous]

I would call your pediatrician. Either you'll be told to go get a test and you will, or you can send your kids back with more peace of mind that the dr. told you it wasn't needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would call your pediatrician. Either you'll be told to go get a test and you will, or you can send your kids back with more peace of mind that the dr. told you it wasn't needed.

OP here: We called. We have a telehealth appointment later today. No fevers here, but my daughter just decided to take a nap after she logged off her class for the morning. That is unlike her. We'll see what they say later.

[Anonymous]

My kid has some sneeze, cough, running nose for a few days but teachers have not said anything to send her home yet. She wears masks at daycare. They do temperature & quick health check everyday at the door. Both parents work from home & have not seen/talked to friends/family/coworkers/neighbors for months, and if it is covid, she must catch it from daycare because I couldn’t think of any possibility of exposures.

I think her symptom is cold even though it has been for days. Right now, most symptoms are running nose, just a few cough or sneezing during the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid has some sneeze, cough, running nose for a few days but teachers have not said anything to send her home yet. She wears masks at daycare. They do temperature & quick health check everyday at the door. Both parents work from home & have not seen/talked to friends/family/coworkers/neighbors for months, and if it is covid, she must catch it from daycare because I couldn’t think of any possibility of exposures.

I think her symptom is cold even though it has been for days. Right now, most symptoms are running nose, just a few cough or sneezing during the day.

I meant have not seen/talked to friends/family/coworkers/neighbors for months in person, and we don’t even dine out at all. We parents just stay at home all the time, and my kid rarely goes out unless going to daycare.