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Original poster

Chicken pox- would you go on holiday?

50 replies

quirkyquerty · 25/03/2023 06:37

My 5 yo ds had a play date ten days ago, two days later the parents messaged to say their son had chicken pox.

Yesterday a mum from school mentioned that her son (my ds best friend ) was off from my ds class as he had had chicken pox for two days.

I know it's super catchy- my question is would you still go on a holiday that you had planned if you knew chicken pox might also go on holiday with you? We are due to fly to Italy on Friday night for a week for the Easter hols.

Thank you

OP posts:
toastofthetown · 25/03/2023 06:39

Is it too late post exposure to get him vaccinated. I saw something which said it might be beneficial if given soon after exposure.

EggBlanket · 25/03/2023 06:41

They won’t let you on the plane if he gets chicken pox so the decision might be taken out of your hands.

halfshutknife · 25/03/2023 06:42

You'll need to check with your insurer re flights. I know we had to do a zoom consultation with a dr and only allowed to fly if pox were crusted over.

(I'm thinking more for coming back if he gets them out there as you could be stranded)

We were 2 weeks to the day post exposure with my 2.

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5 year olds General health
gohomeroger1 · 25/03/2023 06:44

Yes its usually 14 days after exposure you they start

Original poster
quirkyquerty · 25/03/2023 06:51

If he hasn't come out in spots by our flights on Friday evening, would you go then or assume that he will soon develop them so not go at all? I can't decide what to do

OP posts:
Plexie · 25/03/2023 06:52

Make sure you have travel insurance.

PPs are correct that you won't be allowed to fly if the airline knows you have CP. There's a risk that he develops it when you're in Italy and you'll be stranded there until given the all clear by a doctor. Which is why you need travel insurance.

But if you decide not to go as a precaution, I don't know if travel insurance will cover the lost costs if he hasn't been diagnosed.

Redstopgreengo · 25/03/2023 06:56

If no spots have appeared then go (if you are prepared that they might not let you fly home if he does get them and they're not healed by the time you return). If he gets them before then obviously it would be a no to going.

peggypop · 25/03/2023 07:14

Yes I'd go if no symptoms and get good insurance x

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 25/03/2023 07:17

What will you do if he's got spots on the way home and they won't let him on the return flight?

You need to make sure you have watertight travel insurance as you may find you end up stuck abroad until he's better.

WildAloofRebel · 25/03/2023 07:19

Really tough one but I would probably err on not going. DH would want to still go though.

But chicken pox can be soooo miserable, I know so many kids who have had a really terrible time with it. And you’d just want to be at home with everything you needed. Ugh sounds like a nightmare.

If he escapes it this time, definitely look into the vax so you don’t have this worry again!

Happycroc · 25/03/2023 07:29

DS had CP about 2 weeks before we flew to turkey for holiday. I was on pox watch for DD in the lead up as I was aware that the airline would likely not let us fly if either had active pox. DS pox were crusty before we left and luckily didn’t get many on his face/ neck and he wore a long sleeved tshirt just to avoid any awkward conversations. DD (18 months) came out in pox the day we arrived in Turkey. It was pretty hellish as she was obviously uncomfortable, miserable and barely slept for the entire week. We probably should have quarantined in the room for the stay but we instead found a very quiet corner of the resort and set up camp there everyday. Luckily again she was crusty and to spots not too obvious by the time we flew back but all in all it was not the most relaxing trip.

if he hasn’t come out in spots before you go, I would go (he may not even catch it) but take provisions (pox creams etc) just incase!

heartbreakhotel20 · 25/03/2023 07:31

I would go but make sure you get some of the chicken pox lotion to take with you. Normally I would have said don't go, however just before Christmas my son was exposed to chickenpox by his cousins they were playing, cuddling , kissing sharing drinks etc (they are 2). He somehow managed to dodge it. I cancelled my new year plans to be safe and not spread it (my mum is vulnerable) and he didn't even get it so it was all for no reason. So in your circumstances I wouldn't want to risk cancelling a holiday and then him not getting it. But as others of said if he does you will need to cancel and also be prepared if he gets it while away x

Bigpinktrain · 25/03/2023 07:36

What if he gets spots whilst there- are you prepared for that? Not just with the cost, but the annoyance of dealing with that on your holidays. He may not get it at all, or if he does it may be mild, but equally he could come down with a temperature tomorrow and be covered by Monday.
It’s a risk I wouldn’t take. I would look for something else for May half term

EggyBreads · 25/03/2023 07:44

I would go. Because my child has been exposed a few times to kids with chicken pox and still hasn't caught it. Plus you can't claim on insurance for this and I wouldn't waste however much you've spent on the holiday.

Rooma · 25/03/2023 07:47

You're too late for a vaccine if he caught it from the play date 10 days ago but in the hope that he's only been exposed more recently I'd seriously consider getting the vaccine today. Pretty sure boots does it for about £120. It's a good vaccine and part of the childhood vaccine program in many countries just not here.

As for the holiday, what sort is it? Would it be a nightmare to isolate? My daughter got chicken pox 1 week into a 3 week holiday in my home country. We had to isolate due to a baby living in house we were planning to stay in so we got an Airbnb and lived fairly comfortably for a week like that. I know another friend who this has happened to who was able to extend her stay in a family owned villa in Spain to ride it out, with people she knew to deliver supplies (she was by herself with one child so couldn't leave) but your trip may not be so easy to deal with. Imagine being stuck in a hotel room for a week unable to take your child anywhere.

Does your son have any other siblings who will also get it imminently if he falls ill? Definitely vaccine for them if over 12 months.

Original poster
quirkyquerty · 25/03/2023 07:50

Yes we have a 3 year old too who was also at original play date!

OP posts:
Ploppppppppp · 25/03/2023 08:05

My child got chicken pox 2 days before we were due to go to Italy. We had to cancel. So gutted. And our insurance excess was ridiculous- never really checked that before. Lesson learnt

ThreeRingCircus · 25/03/2023 08:12

The incubation period is up to 21 days for chickenpox. In both my DDs cases it was exactly two weeks after being exposed that the spots appeared and that seems to be the usual pattern anecdotally speaking with friends.

It's so hard because DD1 was exposed to chickenpox about three times before she finally caught it so there's no guarantee they'll get it, but it is likely. If there was a risk of not being allowed on the flight home I don't think I'd go, which is really rubbish.

follyfoot37 · 25/03/2023 08:16

Happycroc · 25/03/2023 07:29

DS had CP about 2 weeks before we flew to turkey for holiday. I was on pox watch for DD in the lead up as I was aware that the airline would likely not let us fly if either had active pox. DS pox were crusty before we left and luckily didn’t get many on his face/ neck and he wore a long sleeved tshirt just to avoid any awkward conversations. DD (18 months) came out in pox the day we arrived in Turkey. It was pretty hellish as she was obviously uncomfortable, miserable and barely slept for the entire week. We probably should have quarantined in the room for the stay but we instead found a very quiet corner of the resort and set up camp there everyday. Luckily again she was crusty and to spots not too obvious by the time we flew back but all in all it was not the most relaxing trip.

if he hasn’t come out in spots before you go, I would go (he may not even catch it) but take provisions (pox creams etc) just incase!

So you were content to put others at risk because you wanted a holiday?

cocksstrideintheevening · 25/03/2023 08:26

I would go. Just have decent insurance.

Verite1 · 25/03/2023 08:26

If no spots by the time you fly, I would go providing you have decent insurance and it wouldn’t be a disaster if you had to prolong stay if he caught it out there. So many times my kids have been exposed to stuff and never caught it. I don’t think you should cancel for what ifs and maybes. I would check and see if you can get vaccine today though.

NotPennysBoat · 25/03/2023 08:31

Definitely go, they might not even get it! Your insurance won't pay out for cancellation based just on exposure.

Notanothernewname · 25/03/2023 08:37

As an adult who hasn't had chicken pox, so could get quite ill if I catch it, I think it's really selfish and irresponsible to go on a plane(one of the most confined spaces) knowing that there is a chance your child could be infected just so you can go on holiday.

slowquickstep · 25/03/2023 08:42

You should cancel. Some children are really ill when they have Chicken pox. Would you want him hospitalised abroad, would your insurance even cover it ? A holiday would not be fun for a poorly child.

Skyeheather · 25/03/2023 08:44

Friday is a whole week away, I would wait and see what happens during the week.
You won't be able to claim on your travel insurance until one of them actually has it then you'll need to get a Doctor to confirm it's Chicken Pox in writing so you can give that to the insurance.

DS1 got mild chicken pox, the spots were all on this main body and he didn't get any on his face or anywhere visible. DS2 got it 10 days later, he was more exposed to it as he shares a room and a house with DS1. He was covered in spots - on his face, scalp, in his ears and mouth, all over his body including his bum. There's no way we could have hidden that from anyone.

You won't be allowed to fly if anyone notices, my friend got an extra week in Mexico because her son got chicken pox while on holiday. Her travel insurance would only pay for her and her DS to stay the extra week, the rest of the family had to fly home as planned.

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