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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you travel with a poorly child?

25 replies

fluffpot89 · 07/08/2026 19:48

Obviously not with a vomiting bug. But dd4 has started with a bad cough and we are due to fly to Tenerife on Sunday. The last time she had a viral cough she ended up in hospital as her breathing became laboured. She was given an inhaler and has had no health issues since or needed to use it.

I know we have time between then and now to gauge but I just wondered what other people’s boundaries would be when making the call. I clearly don’t want to make my child suffer by dragging her on a flight when she’s sick (or potentially pass anything on to others) but I also don’t want to miss our long awaited family holiday especially because she is usually very sick for one day then bounces right back from viral infections.

OP posts:
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GranolaBaker · Yesterday 11:12

Our Insurance is with our bank and just automatically comes with the premier account too. they don’t prompt you to update them on medical conditions, hospital visits or investigations. It’s in the small print - you have to proactively tell them.

Original poster
fluffpot89 · Yesterday 11:09

Pharmacist confirmed viral. Her temp is normal and she is playing happily at the moment.

OP posts:
Muchtoomuchtodo · Yesterday 08:57

Our insurance is through the bank too and we definitely need to update them with any GP consultations, hospital admissions and new prescribed medications. It’s better to be safe than sorry, ring them to check.

W0tnow · Yesterday 08:50

Probably. Are there not reciprocal arrangements between the UK and Spain for healthcare?

Original poster
fluffpot89 · Yesterday 08:49

Ok sorry if I’m being thick. Dh deals with the travel insurance as it’s all linked to his bank. He has a family policy set up but I don’t think it’s ever asked him for updates on medical conditions ( other than the big ones such as cancer and heart disease etc). I will double check this with him. I’m confident that this is just a viral thing and since we have her inhaler I don’t think a hospital would necessarily be needed unless something else developed. She is eating, chatting and playing fine today but I’m just worrying in case she takes a downward turn which has happened before when she’s had a viral illness. Her throat is a bit red and she’s coughing now and then but other than that just snotty and a bit puffy eyed. If we were travelling today I’d have gone given the behaviour but we need to see how she is in the morning I guess.

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Lemons1571 · Yesterday 08:44

You have to disclose anything on the gp record going back at least a year (rules depend on the insurer). If she was diagnosed with post viral wheeze you need to disclose that. Otherwise you’d likely not be covered.

Muchtoomuchtodo · Yesterday 08:32

fluffpot89 · Yesterday 08:23

It isn’t a condition? She hasn’t been diagnosed with asthma. She has an inhaler for post viral wheeze. Surely if she got sick it would just be one of those things that can’t be planned for.

Yes I’m hoping today she picks up instead of going the other way.

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Our insurance asks about previous hospital admissions, GP consultations and prescribed medication (not if it’s being used). You really ought to inform your insurance of her medical history and recent consultations. If she deteriorates while you’re away and you haven’t told them, you’re unlikely to be covered. Not a risk I would be willing to take

EmeraldShamrock000 · Yesterday 08:28

fluffpot89 · Yesterday 08:23

It isn’t a condition? She hasn’t been diagnosed with asthma. She has an inhaler for post viral wheeze. Surely if she got sick it would just be one of those things that can’t be planned for.

Yes I’m hoping today she picks up instead of going the other way.

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To reassure you, but I’ll get bashed here. I don’t disclose DS health conditions. I have had to contact a gp abroad, no issues whatsoever with accessing an antibiotic. Yes it’s wrong, but I couldn’t afford to disclose and have a cheap yearly holiday.
I have missed a holiday as he wasn’t well the week we were going.
If the worst happened I would raid my credit union and ask family for help.

Original poster
fluffpot89 · Yesterday 08:23

Lemons1571 · Yesterday 08:10

Phone your insurers and let them know. You must have disclosed it as a condition to them already, so unless the gp says don’t travel, you should be covered.

It isn’t a condition? She hasn’t been diagnosed with asthma. She has an inhaler for post viral wheeze. Surely if she got sick it would just be one of those things that can’t be planned for.

Yes I’m hoping today she picks up instead of going the other way.

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EmeraldShamrock000 · Yesterday 08:14

You’ll have a better idea today on how she is, bring an inhaler with you, check there is no smell from her throat.
Is there any chance she would wear a mask use hand sanitizer? i only suggest this as my DS is immunocompromised. If we were seated in front of your family my holiday would be ruined too. DS wears a mask on flights.

Lemons1571 · Yesterday 08:10

Phone your insurers and let them know. You must have disclosed it as a condition to them already, so unless the gp says don’t travel, you should be covered.

Original poster
fluffpot89 · Yesterday 08:07

I called 111 this morning who advised us to go to the pharmacist. Dd has woken up happy and playful, the cough sounds nasty and she’s clearly not 100% but her behaviour isn’t cause for concern at the moment. Hope it stays this way.

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Original poster
fluffpot89 · 07/08/2026 22:16

We don’t have a walk in centre locally but would 111 be able to arrange something?

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Begee · 07/08/2026 21:41

Timeforachange26 · 07/08/2026 21:36

On a Saturday? Without an appointment? Please tell me what GPs will do that

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Substitute go for walk in center then, go in first thing. Advice still stands, I'm not debating GP surgery politics just that it makes sense to get the child checked over to ensure no bacterial infections are present and chest sounds clear and oxygen saturations are good

Timeforachange26 · 07/08/2026 21:36

Begee · 07/08/2026 20:18

why don't you take her to your GP tomorrow for a once over? And explain the holiday situation

On a Saturday? Without an appointment? Please tell me what GPs will do that

hahabahbag · 07/08/2026 20:37

If you do go make sure you have ghic cards, even if they haven’t arrived the fact you applied covers you I was told

Pinkflamingo10 · 07/08/2026 20:31

personally I wouldn’t go. I’ve been in this exact scenario last summer- and I ended up staying at home with my young son, my husband went on the holiday with our other two children. They had a ball.
I couldn’t risk hospital admission stress abroad.
if you do go -make sure your travel insurance will cover admission etc check are you are staying near a decent hospital with paediatrics.

Original poster
fluffpot89 · 07/08/2026 20:28

She genuinely hasn’t seemed that poorly within herself today or I would have gone today. She started coughing a bit before bed and has coughed a few times since she’s been asleep. She’s had a runny nose but at this stage nothing to cause concern. My mind is going overdrive because in the past she has had viral infections that have knocked her out for a day or two, other times they come and go without much fuss at all. I am just worried as we are going on holiday :(

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maddiemookins16mum · 07/08/2026 20:25

I’d be at the nearest walk in clinic at 9am tomorrow morning.

Begee · 07/08/2026 20:18

why don't you take her to your GP tomorrow for a once over? And explain the holiday situation

Muchtoomuchtodo · 07/08/2026 20:15

What have you disclosed to your travel insurance about her past medical history? If you’ve not declared her previous admission and prescribed inhaler, I would be very wary about taking her

Justmemyselfandi999 · 07/08/2026 20:12

I would go. You can get Prednisone abroad easily from doctors or hospitals and the drier climate might help ease symptoms anyway

Original poster
fluffpot89 · 07/08/2026 20:06

She hasn’t been unwell at all within herself. She’s been playing and eating fine. However from past experience she usually starts off with mild symptoms then goes downhill within a few days which would coincide with the day we’re meant to travel. It doesn’t always happen like this but on her ‘sick’ days she tends to be very lethargic and sometimes sick, I couldn’t travel with her like that. Ironically though after her one bad day she always seems to pick up. I’m just hoping it doesn’t get this bad this time.

Shes never had the wheeze before, the inhaler was given to us about 3 months ago during that spell of illness but has never been needed since.

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Jellybunny98 · 07/08/2026 20:03

As PP says, is she unwell with it, any temperature?

If it was my daughter I wouldn’t, she always seems to struggle badly with a cough and more than once we’ve had to attend hospital due to low oxygen when she catches these bugs so I wouldn’t chance getting on a plane with her. My husband & son would go & I’d stay with her with the hope that if it clears in the next few days we can fly out for the end of the holiday. It’s never nice being in hospital with a poorly child but I’d rather that hospital be here than abroad with potentially language barriers, unfamiliar place etc.

CrispyK · 07/08/2026 20:00

is she unwell with it?
I would be concerned that travelling when knowingly unwell would invalidate my insurance should hospitalisation be needed.
Did the previous hospitalisation happen during a period that made it declarable for the policy you have.