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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to take a chickenpoxy child away for trip, partially on public transport?

194 replies

dappply · 29/03/2012 15:34

since yesterday DS has chickenpox. Doesn't seem to be feeling very bad, but is very spotty. we had plans to go and visit friends this weekend. It's a four hour trip, an hour of it by public transport (boat trip as they live on an island).
Am I meant to isolate him? Should he not be going on public transport? WIBU to go?

OP posts:

formerdiva · 29/03/2012 16:01

I took my DD on a trip when she had CP (she developed it as we were travelling, and I kept quiet as it just seemed easier)

I found out more about CP when we returned and was mortified to learn about the effects it can have on people. This included one woman who posted on Mumsnet that she contracted CP when 6 months pregnant and lost her baby after being in front of a child with CP at the supermarket. I had no idea of the possible implications. This poor lady had had CP several times (not all people who've had it once develop immunity), and had to go through her pregnancies terrified that she may cross paths with someone who had it.

YANBU to not know this (especially given your GP's advice), but please don't take your child out.

formerdiva · 29/03/2012 16:04

X posts with OTTMumma

OhCobblers · 29/03/2012 16:06

I'm amazed with all the info "out there" at the touch of the button that even now some people don't realise how contagious it is.

I wouldn't dream of taking my child anywhere when they had it. Its bloody boring staying in and i was bored out of my mind but the idea of taking them out knowing they were infectious didn't even cross my mind, I absolutely would not have done it.

McPopcornMouseNFries · 29/03/2012 16:07

YABVU.

formerdiva that's awful!

TimothyClaypoleLover · 29/03/2012 16:10

I can't believe the advice your doctor gave you. How irresponsible. I would be reporting your doctor as it well known that you should not take a contagious chicken poxed child out in public until the spots have crusted over. This is the advice all schools and nurseries follow and all doctors I have heard of advocate this - until I heard about your doctor.

Glittertwins · 29/03/2012 16:11

Highly unreasonable. Your child could kill my mum as she has no immune system.

DinahMoHum · 29/03/2012 16:14

if you can stay in the car on the boat, then id go

Dawndonna · 29/03/2012 16:19

It isn't good for people with lowered immune systems to be exposed to such things, eg. people on chemo.

dexter73 · 29/03/2012 16:20

My dd felt absolutely fine when she had chickenpox even though she was covered in spots. However, that didn't mean she wasn't infectious so she stayed at home until the spots healed over.

Southwest · 29/03/2012 16:25

YADBU
I'm with the collective wisdom on here your doc is talking a load of bolleaux does he actually have a medical degree is it about 60 years old from some dodgy institute?

As far as the park an outing for fresh air rummaging in a corner kicking a ball etc as long as you know you can stay well away from others would be fine going on the swings into the play area an absolute no no

Chicken pox is very contagious!

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 29/03/2012 16:26

Dont take your child out with an infectious disease.
Your GP should be struck off for telling you its fine not to isolate your child.

Dont make me share my story again. I will if would convince you but i would rather not as I have had a crap day as it is.

Original poster

dappply · 29/03/2012 16:28

fair enough, that's enough public opinion for me! trip off, thank you all.

OP posts:

Hopandaskip · 29/03/2012 16:29

When my best friend was having cancer treatment she was told that chicken pox could easily kill her. She did avoid places with a lot of people as much as possible but still had to grocery shop etc. Could you imagine if you ever found out that someone like her had died because of your holiday?

I wouldn't even agree about staying in the car on the boat. What are you going to do if he needs the bathroom somewhere on this four hour trip? Use a motorway reststop? The boat bathroom?

I think public health would be furious about your drs advice.

Original poster

dappply · 29/03/2012 16:31

Please don't all continue to get angry at me and flame me by the way. I wasn't asking because I was planning on definately doing it, i was asking because i was confused by advice and attitudes and wanted a general consensus! thank you x

OP posts:

ABatInBunkFive · 29/03/2012 16:36

dappply i'd just hide the thread now, your always going to get people who just reply to the op, you are doing what you shaould and that's what matters, if your doctor did actually say that to you i'd consider seeing a different doctor from now on though.

Thomcat · 29/03/2012 16:37

Think you well & truly have had your answer now, bless you! Just want to add hope your DS doesn't suffer with it too much and feels better soon. Have a good weekend at home x

Hopandaskip · 29/03/2012 16:39

sorry, we cross posted, I wouldn't have done so if I had seen your post first.

mercibucket · 29/03/2012 16:41

Thank you for listening :-)
I thought this would be a 'well I'm going anyway' thread so it's nice you have decided to cancel. On behalf of ds, thank you
Sorry about your trip and hope cpx goes asap

mercibucket · 29/03/2012 16:41

Thank you for listening :-)
I thought this would be a 'well I'm going anyway' thread so it's nice you have decided to cancel. On behalf of ds, thank you
Sorry about your trip and hope cpx goes asap

Original poster

dappply · 29/03/2012 16:42

yes the doctor did actually say that. i asked the doctor about whether we should be staying at home until he's better, and should i have even brought him on the bus to the doctors? She said that it's a difficult issue as it's such a common thing, and that i'd obviously have to get the bus back home again so not to worry about it too much. And that if he seemed well in himself that it was fine to go the park on the way home, but avoid indoor things like nurseries and playgroups. and i asked her about the trip, and she said the same, up to me if he's well in himself. and i asked her about air travel (as we've got flights booked next weekend) and she said to ask the airline as they all have different policies.

she was quite blase about it all really!

OP posts:

OhCobblers · 29/03/2012 16:44

dappply
i think most aren't flaming you just incredulous that you've been given such bad advice.
i knew nothing about CPox really until one of mine got it and from everything i'd read i knew they were contagious. A Doc saying otherwise is truly bizarre.
As someone else suggested i'd find another GP.
Hope your DS doesn't suffer to much. Thankfully mine didn't and it was over in 6 days - hope the same applies to yours.

OhCobblers · 29/03/2012 16:44

x post OP !

Hulababy · 29/03/2012 16:46

Whilst he is infectious you shouldn't take him out in public at all - not to the shops, the park, a boat, anywhere.

Once no more spts and crusted over and not infectious - go where you like.

It isn't about him feeling ill, it is about him passing the disease on to other people who may be vunerable or at risk of much worse if in contact with CP.

Nixea · 29/03/2012 16:49

Dappply - for what it's worth I know the Easyjet regs are that you can fly as long as it's been 7 days since the appearance of the last new spot and all spots are crusted over. We had to cancel last year because of it.

Original poster

dappply · 29/03/2012 16:49

so this weekend, say i was to take him for a bike ride to the beach? not go inside anywhere. is that OK? go for a walk to the local park for a run about on the grass? go for a walk along the river ?

OP posts:

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