Spots - day out - what would you do?

[SpottyDog84]

We’ve got a nice day out planned today, booked a couple of months ago. A bit expensive for us but a nice treat for the children. Non-refundable tickets.

Youngest has woken up spotty. Doesn’t seem unwell or upset, but definitely spotty. Might be chicken pox, or might not, I’ve no idea.

I know NHS guidance is to stay off school if you definitely have chicken pox. But I don’t know if this is.

I don’t want to be irresponsible or make others unwell. It the children are really looking forward today, it can’t be rearranged and youngest seems perfectly fine and happy, no signs of illness at all.

What would you do?

Day out is somewhere a bit busy but outdoors if that makes a difference?

I'd go anyway. I remember being taken to the cinema with chicken pox and we took DS on holiday with it as he was absolutely fine.

It could just be an allergic reaction to something. If he's not running a temperature, itchy, fretful or otherwise unwell, just go. You would know if it was chickenpox. Those spots are grim.

Have you googled what chickenpox looks like? If you compare your child’s spors with photos of chickenpox you should at least be able to make a judgement on whether that’s what it is. I wouldn’t take a child with chickenpox (or suspected chickenpox) to a busy place as it is highly infectious and can be dangerous for certain groups (eg: pregnant, immunocompromised, elderly, babies) so it would be selfish to knowingly go out with it.

If the spots don’t look like chickenpox and the child is fine I would continue with the day, but at least try to ascertain using Google what the spots might be first.

Has the spotty child been ok over the last few days? I think my kids were a bit run down/under the weather in the days before chicken pox spots appeared.

I would go anyway if everyone is feeling well/no fever especially as it's an outside thing. Have a lovely day.

And my dc still has health complications at 10 years old from cp they had as a baby. So this is very bad, selfish & irresponsible advice.

OP CP spots are very distinctive. You will be able to work out if it is / isn’t. Dc get spots for all kinds of reasons. I wouldn’t go if it is CP, but I would if it’s something post viral or just a rash.

How…. Selfish and entitled. It’s not all about you, chicken pox is highly contagious unless scabbed and can make people very unwell. I was off work three weeks in my twenties, extremely ill, lost weight all because of irresponsible people like you. 👏🏻

It’s pretty easy to tell if it’s chicken pox, why people don’t vaccinate (as is routine in most countries) I’ll never know!

And no, I wouldn’t go.

Post a picture of the spots?
or go and ask Pharmacist.
if it is CP it’s really contagious. DS2 was in intensive care when he caught it for 5 days.

if it is CP then one of you goes with the other children.

If you think it's chicken pox then as shit as it is you have to cancel the day out. It's completely selfish to take children out when you know they could make others seriously unwell just because you don't want to miss out on a day out.

Although the fact you're already trying to find silly loopholes like I don't know if it's chicken pox and it's outdoors etc leads me to suspect you'll just go anyway so not sure why you've even posted.

I’m not 100% sure but we’re not going, just in case.

I’ve emailed to see if they will consider transferring the booking (even though it says non-refundable and non-transferable). Keeping fingers crossed.

I hate that everywhere seems to have moved to booking (and paying!) in advance. I miss the days where you could just make a plan on the day and go.

Sorry to hear your day has been messed up and I hope your DC is ok. I'm sure you've googled but chicken pox tends to start off with water filled blisters, common to start around back neck, torso, although as an adult mine started on my face.

You may already have some, but if not, might be worth getting some Piriton as your DC might go through an intensely itchy stage - if it's not CP, sounds like your DC are of the age it might be picked up in the next year or so, so not wasted.

Thanks everyone.

Despite seeming perfectly happy this morning, DS spent most of the afternoon asleep so it’s a good job we cancelled.

All stocked up on calpol and virasoothe gel and hoping for a swift recovery.