Can a runny nose affect the result of a rapid test?

Question

Hello, my 18 month old daughter has just come down with the foot hand mouth virus. She has started having a runny nose and dry cough. I did a covid test with difficulty which is negative but several people who are in covid isolation approached my daughter a few days ago. Should I be concerned that the test may be negative? Should I give her a syrup for her cough and runny nose?

Naji-tom Samaha · Accepted Answer

Hello, thank you for your question! Indeed, the tests are reliable but not 100%, but they are still quite sensitive. You can rely on the test result. If in doubt, you can do another test in 1 to 2 days if you wish The measures of distancing yourself, wearing a mask and washing your hands among others still apply :) Syrups will not be very effective. I would opt for nasal hygiene with a saline solution (Hydrasense, Salinex and others) followed by suctioning with a nasal aspirator, which can be done as often as needed during the day, and at least 30 minutes before bedtime. By 'cleaning' the nasal secretions, we can reduce their backward flow, which often causes coughing. I hope this has been helpful to you, and if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me! Tom Samaha, pharmacist