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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:
SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 25/03/2023 08:46

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.

Tbh with kids there is always a chance they've got something. When DS got chicken pox it seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

viques · 25/03/2023 08:46

Have you and your OH had the pox OP? I only ask because I caught it from my DD and for three days and nights I felt like death, couldn’t sleep, hot, itchy, short tempered.

Random102 · 25/03/2023 08:48

I would go and hope for the best.

For anyone else wanting to avoid this situation, a safe and reliable vaccine for chicken pox exists. It’s a bit pricey, but cheaper than time off work or cancelled holidays!

Interested in this thread?

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5 year olds General health
coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 25/03/2023 08:48

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.

But that's always a risk when you go anywhere in public.

Most illnesses are at their most contagious before symptoms show. Otherwise they wouldn't spread as badly as they do.

Original poster
quirkyquerty · 25/03/2023 08:50

I do wish I'd known about the vaccine before now. If they don't catch it here ill definitely book in

OP posts:
Original poster
quirkyquerty · 25/03/2023 08:51

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.

Surely this applies for every illness though? Just going out of the house and near other people you'd be putting yourself at risk from all sorts.

OP posts:
seratoninmoonbeams · 25/03/2023 08:52

@quirkyquerty I have never had chicken pox. My three siblings all had it at various points growing up. When I was pregnant I had blood tests which showed I have never had it and not known iyswim. If it was me and your DS is all clear on the spot front I would go. I would have thought by then he would have symptoms anyway if he was going to get it. My DS who have also had it (and I still didn't get even though I obviously cared for them) and one got it and the other was about five days later. Imagine if you don't go and he never got it.

anyolddinosaur · 25/03/2023 09:09

I'm an adult who has not knowingly had chicken pox. Doctors will tell you you probably did and had a single spot that went unnoticed, although I know someone who caught it at uni. My child got a good dose, passed on from visiting children who stayed with us several days. I didnt catch it from any of them and having being exposed to the first children I was not avoiding mine. I would keep a child with chicken pox away from babies but IME once past one the younger they get it the better.

Every time you fly you risk covid, worse than chicken pox.

WeWereInParis · 25/03/2023 09:41

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.

If I hadn't had chicken pox I'd definitely get the vaccine!

StillWantingADog · 25/03/2023 09:44

It’s a tricky one but I’d go and hope for the best too. Check your insurance though, most policies would pay for you to stay out if you couldn’t return as planned which would be a PITA for sure. Some policies may only pay for one parent to stay though.

OhamIreally · 25/03/2023 10:24

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.

Why don't you get vaccinated?

To be honest I can't understand why parents don't just get their children vaccinated. Yes you have to pay but if you can afford holidays then you can afford to pay to ensure your kids don't have to suffer a pretty miserable illness.

I'm not usually a twat on Mumsnet but really this is pretty basic.

Redcherries · 25/03/2023 11:02

You can’t cancel a holiday on a what if. Make sure your insurance is air tight and cancel if they develop it.

As for vulnerable people on flights, I’m cev and chicken pox could kill me (amongst a million and one other bugs), I fly a lot. There will be people on the flight who have something they know of, people who have something they don’t know they have. IT’s unfortunately part and parcel of life. Whilst I do expect people who know me to be cautious and stay away if they’re ill I’d never expect someone not to get on a flight with me, a complete stranger, on the off chance their child has caught one of the many things that do the rounds at schools every week.

If you knowingly travelled with a child with chickenpox that’s a different thing all together and I would be massively judging (looking at the ‘lovely’ lady I spent 10 minutes chatting with at a theme park who revealed the toddler with her had chickenpox but she didn’t want him to miss out, I get it, but ffs, stay away from people)

slowquickstep · 25/03/2023 11:42

seratoninmoonbeams · 25/03/2023 08:52

@quirkyquerty I have never had chicken pox. My three siblings all had it at various points growing up. When I was pregnant I had blood tests which showed I have never had it and not known iyswim. If it was me and your DS is all clear on the spot front I would go. I would have thought by then he would have symptoms anyway if he was going to get it. My DS who have also had it (and I still didn't get even though I obviously cared for them) and one got it and the other was about five days later. Imagine if you don't go and he never got it.

It is 14 days from catching it to it showing.

Random102 · 25/03/2023 11:54

OhamIreally · 25/03/2023 10:24

Why don't you get vaccinated?

To be honest I can't understand why parents don't just get their children vaccinated. Yes you have to pay but if you can afford holidays then you can afford to pay to ensure your kids don't have to suffer a pretty miserable illness.

I'm not usually a twat on Mumsnet but really this is pretty basic.

Show quote history

I don’t think a lot of people realise the vaccine exists.

I had my children done at 3 and 5 when they hadn’t yet caught it. I would have done them much younger had I know about it.

Think it cost me £140 each for them.

Random102 · 25/03/2023 11:55

anyolddinosaur · 25/03/2023 09:09

I'm an adult who has not knowingly had chicken pox. Doctors will tell you you probably did and had a single spot that went unnoticed, although I know someone who caught it at uni. My child got a good dose, passed on from visiting children who stayed with us several days. I didnt catch it from any of them and having being exposed to the first children I was not avoiding mine. I would keep a child with chicken pox away from babies but IME once past one the younger they get it the better.

Every time you fly you risk covid, worse than chicken pox.

Go spend £140 on the vaccine. You really don’t want to catch it as an adult.

Feelslikespring2 · 12/04/2023 08:16

@quirkyquerty did your DC catch the chicken pox in the end op? We have centre parcs booked and are in the exact same situation!

Original poster
quirkyquerty · 13/04/2023 18:34

Back from a fantastic holiday and no sign of chicken pox!

OP posts:
Gothambutnotahamster · 13/04/2023 18:37

Glad you had a good time Op!

Feelslikespring2 · 13/04/2023 19:55

@quirkyquerty amazing! So glad for you. Thanks for the update

YukoandHiro · 13/04/2023 19:57

Yes but only with excellent travel insurance so you know you can extend if you get stuck there another fortnight until he can fly back. Also what kind of employers do you have? Would that be a massive issue?

YukoandHiro · 13/04/2023 19:59

Oh just seen you went and got away with it - what a joy! Glad you had a good trip

Crunchymum · 13/04/2023 20:33

Do people really cancel holidays due to exposure to illness?

(I get that CP is contagious and I also confess to have not travelling outside if the UK in 8 years because we can't afford it but id be loath to cancel a holiday for a potantial illnes)

Does insurance cover this?

drspouse · 13/04/2023 20:39

We went skiing two weeks after DD had pox and were prepared for what if DS had them while we were out there. He did get them but we only spotted it on the plane so there wasn't much we could do at that point. We did tell the family we'd been in a chalet with as they were on the same plane. I was literally sitting next to him going "aaargh, there's another one". He was perky and happy before getting on the plane (and in fact wasn't badly affected) so we couldn't have spotted it before flying.

We were in France but flying from Geneva and we weren't sure if Esprit would put us up if he couldn't fly home but we were pretty sure that unless he had them before we left the UK, the travel insurance wouldn't cover it. We reckoned that the insurance would cover one of us to stay in a hotel if not, but I had no idea what I'd do about food for us etc. if I couldn't leave him and no babysitter could stay with him.

drspouse · 13/04/2023 20:39

*the travel insurance wouldn't cover cancellation is what I meant to say i.e. if DD was well already and so was he.

SittingOnTheSand · 13/04/2023 20:45

So pleased your holiday went well @quirkyquerty

We had both our children vaccinated against chicken pox. The eldest might have had it (5 spots, not itchy, GP was unsure), youngest hadn't had it. No issues to vaccinate both of them. Even collected the Boots loyalty points!!

We have no family nearby and there are times of year in my job that would make it very difficult for my colleagues if I wasn't in. No panic when we get the chicken pox notification emails from school either.

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