WWYD - pox on holiday

[meladeso]

Be very glad of some ideas / advice.

We have a small ish set of blisters since yesterday on DC who is 3. Assume they're chicken pox.

We're in a family resort in the canaries, staying here until Wednesday.

What do I do?

Quarantine in room for the duration?

Keep distance from others but otherwise carry on largely as usual? Including attending breakfast with other guests, play in pool, eat in restaurants in evenings etc?

I feel like if it was only about passing it on to other kids, some people would say just keep distance from others and hope for the best. But what about pregnant women etc? People at risk of more than just a few days of itching / illness?

Also do I tell the resort? Do I tell the travel operator? Airline?

If you're in Spain, ask your hotel where the nearest centre de salud (similar to walk in centre) is. You need diagnosis and will probably be told not to fly. Once you have that get in touch with your insurance. Good luck.

First things first: call your travel insurance. Most policies don't offer retroactive cover - the will open the case at the time of you first call and cover expenses from then on (except for true emergencies, obviously).

You will then need to see a doctor to confirm diagnosis in writing and send a copy to the insurance company.

Your child won't be allowed to fly without a doctor's note authorising it ( a "fit to fly"). This is usually given 2 weeks from the time the spots appeared.

Your travel insurance will contact the tour operator to extend your stay and rebook flights.
In the meantime, you will have to keep your child quarantined in the hotel room, I'm afraid. Is there another adult with you so you can take it in turns to stay with your child?

Hi everyone.
So I spoke to the travel insurer, haven't yet talked to holiday company or resort. We're shut away in our room.
Travel insurer has sorted everything brilliantly, doctor on the way in the next hour, and then they'll assess need to rebook and rehome us from Wednesday if needs be.
Good idea on the paddling pool on the patio!
We can tag team, our eldest hasn't had it, but I'm not planning to start keeping them apart. I'm immune, husband has already had it.

I'm so sad for our lovely plans and the nice meals out we had planned for our last few days.

Just sitting on the sofa having a little sob now.

Actually make that a massive fucking belting cry now.

I'm heartbroken. This is a really special holiday we spent a fortune on and planned for months (I know most holidays are like that).

If we have to delay coming back we can divide and conquer as my eldest has to be back for school Thursday. And I'm meant to be working Thursday and Friday.

So in theory DH would stay behind as he's not due back until Monday. But if they're not going to let DC with pox fly for another ten days or something like a PP said I can't bear to be away from the little one for that long.

And I don't want to not be there for the other DC's first day back at school either!

Sorry if I sound pathetic. Just feeling so sad and sorry for myself.

They look like mosquito bites to me ...

Please please quarenteen in room, I’m sorry it’s going to ruin your holiday but if they crust over in time you will be back home as normal unlike others who will be hospitalised and even potientally die on their holiday (sounds dramatic but sadly known children who have, you can never tell who is or isn’t immune suppressed). Also if you have been in contact with anyone you do know is immune suppressed in the past 48 hours (20mins in the same room is classed as exposure) please let them know so they can seek treatment

Cry away, it’s so horrid that your holiday has been ruined. 5 days might be enough time for them to crust do don’t loose hope and see a dr

Awww I would cry too.

Looking like pox from here however don’t panic about what you don’t yet

I'm so sorry your holiday is ruined but could I please add a word of caution to not let your child see how devastated you are. Please reassure them it's not their fault. I still remember my mum crying when I got measles at 6 and they had to cancel our first ever family holiday. I felt awful about it for ages but was so young and it wasn't my fault.

Daisy please don't worry we are fully quarantined and will remain so! Would not dream of risking others' health.

As soon as the doc has been we'll let the resort know so they can do what they need to.

Sally absolutely I won't. I'm on my own and once I've dusted myself off we'll do our best to have a fun time with what we've got.

My daughter got similar spots on holidays and they weren’t chicken pox. She only got a few dots with blisters, and they disappeared then, no crusting over and she wasn’t ill at all. She got them again at home about a year later and I thought it definitely was chicken pox this time, brought her to the doctor and no it wasn’t them either! She had about 10 dots with blisters this time. I still don’t know what they were. So there is a tiny chance it might be ok?

My older children got a temperature and were ill before the chicken pox so I knew for definite that it was them. If she otherwise will and there are just a few dots, it might be similar to what my daughter had.

Pox confirmed

Oh no, what's the plan?
Try to think of as many things that you can bring back to the room for/split up.
Make the most of it.

Doc says he thinks maybe we can travel Friday next week.

DH asked if he can come again Tuesday just in case, he said yes but with an "I'm humouring you" face.

Not clear yet whether we all stay or just 2.

Thanks to everyone for kind words. Sure I'll feel better later / tomorrow.

Don't think DC is even aware what's going on as they're not unwell!
Even the older one is oblivious so that's all good.

Oh wait - forgot something important.

Doc has said DC is fine to go out and to public places, as long as we're outside only? That we could be poolside if we keep our distance, and outdoor restaurants??

Seems to contradict what PP have said so that's confusing!

Outside still puts people at risk,

That's what I understood daisy, so not sure why he's saying that?

It seems odd but I guess differentcountries maybe have different recommendations? I’m not sure I’d be comfortable going out - a walk in a wide open empty space, yes but poolside or restaurants, no.

And for you, OP as that’s really bad luck!

Are you someplace where they routinely vaccinate? That might influence the doctor's thinking.

By outside, I'd say an emptyish beach would be fine, but not outdoor restaurants or busy parks with play equipment or splash parks.

I agree with you guys. Seems we need to be in for a penny in for a pound and keep we'll clear of people.

Thanks soupdragon I will certainly be self medicating shortly!

Also prepare yourself that your dc with pox might get poorlier over the next few days. Peak poorliness for my dds was when they had the last pox come up (new ones kept coming for 3 or 4 days). So get stocked on calpol, remember not to give any ibuprofen, and get something to ease rash either from chemist or just porridge for bath as pp said. Hopefully you will be lucky but both my dds had hundreds of pox when it peaked, and dd2 had one that affected her eye so it can be very nasty. I plan to vacvinate dc3!