To take my baby on holiday with chickenpox

[MamaMia100]

Before you shoot me down, read on:
It started on monday 16th when I found a big well developed (so must have been there a day or 2 already) blister under his testicles. A day or 2 later, more spots and a temperature (quite mild, he hasn't really been that unwell). Old advice is wait until all spots crusted over (which would prob be a good week away from
now as new spots still appearing) but gp said (and wrote me a note saying) that new guidelines are that they are only infectious for a max of 6 days from first spot (which must have appeared on Sunday at latest as it was already a big fat blister by the time I found it on Monday, and the other spots have taken a few days to reach that stage). Supposed to be going to rural France to stay in a v isolated house which we are unlikely to leave v often (as there's a pool ad massive gardens there) by train tomorrow morning. I am worried about
A) infecting others on train as, despite gp advice, spots are far from crusted over,
B) him getting more ill while away from home (been told they can get a bad cough a week after pox gone - any experience of this???). He has breathing issues which are due tone investigated when we get back from hold (noisy breathing/gasping - suspected floppy larynx or similar. Endoscopy had to be postponed when he developed the pox).
Any opinions? Do I go with gp's advice, or my conscience (and miss out on my hols when he may not even be infectious - don't think travel insurance will work as we bought it after pox
seen by gp). And there's the worry of a bad cough making his breathing worse. We are going with a friend who is a trainee gp and there is a hospital nearby but still a bit worried...

Any thoughts/ opinions greatly appreciated as I've lost the plot somewhat! Sorry for mammoth post! TIA

Steppemum - the information on the NHS link I posted was last reviewed in April 2012 so pretty up to date

I wouldn't say it's incredibly rare Wannabe, and I would also say comparing chicken pox to a cold is not an equal comparison.

I also wouldn't label it "hysteria".

This from Wilson Frickett: You don't have the right to willingly expose others to what can be a dangerous infection IMO - is spot on.

Be a courteous member of society - and that involves keeping your child at home when they have a contagious illness.

The OP doesn't have valid travel insurance for chickenpox complications because she took out the insurance after the spots appeared (see OP). Travelling without it is asking for trouble.

It is the willing exposure that is the issue here. As a child is infectious before they develop symptoms, then nobody can be blamed for exposure, but when the virus is known to be there, it is clearly wrong to expose others knowingly. You cannot always tell if someone is pregnant, or immunocompromised.

The NHS is pretty good at updating their guidance policies in relation to public health.

Good point turps. Please do not go. The risks to the public and your son are too great.

NOt unless he is all crusted over and even then only in the car not on the train.

You have no right to knowingly risk infecting other people with an infectious disease.
Your son is waiting to be investigated for an existing respiratory problem. Try searching 'Chicken pox pneumonitis' before you make your final decision.

still think you need source of gp advice as it goes in the face of all the other advice around. If you can find it and it rings true, then your gp is right.

you really can't travel with infectious child on the train.

Unless - are you going on a sleeper train? These usually have private compartments of 6 sleepers. If you are and your family and friends fill the compartment then that might be different.

And it'll be warm in France, won't it? Horrible to be hot and sweaty with CP.

My DS's had chicken pox recently and the guidance is around 10 days from the first spot, but when crusted over.

DS2 needed the full 10 days an wasn't completely clear til day 11. DS1 had it very mildly and it was still 8 days til everything was crusted over.

I definitely would not go out in public (including train) as it is more of a problem with immune suppressed people - like my mum who looks completely normal!

I still remember being 6 months pregnant with DS1 when going on holiday, and the person in front was trying to check in with a pox ridden child, she really couldn't understand why the check in staff wouldn't let her on the plane and was shouting at them until the lovely check in lady yelled at her to "look behind you" said women looked at me and grabbed the child and ran away she looked so shocked - she had been trying to argue she could stay away from pregnant women!!!!

I wouldn't go, based on my experience of being on holiday with a poorly DC, particularly breathing issues.

Also, you stand a good chance of ruining someone else's holiday by passing it on at the beginning of their trip!

Please don't go tomorrow.

You think the first blister had been there a day or two by Monday - would you really have done a day's nappy changes without noticing it?

I've known GPs be wrong before.

Do check what is covered on your health insurance. As already said, most exclude pre-existing medical conditions, which for your DS would include his breathing problems and any complications linked to chicken pox. (We have to get a specialised, more expensive, policy to cover my DD's allergies.)

Later spots do tend to crust over more quickly - can you delay going on holiday until they're all crusted over?

op why can't you drive down instead?

Chicken pox spreads via the respiratory system, so water vapour that you breathe out & on to others. That's why the most infectious stage is the fortnight before the spots develop and about 48 hours. That's why your GP told you the Health Protection Agency (who, perhaps surprisingly, know a little more about this than the average hysterical Mumsnetter) advice that after 5 days, the child is no longer considered contagious. The advice has nothing to do with when spots crust over, because it is very rare to transmit chicken pox that way, and then only be close physical contact.

bartlet Very interesting indeed.

www.hpa.org.uk/webc/HPAwebFile/HPAweb_C/1194947358374

HPA advice on infection control in schools & other childcare settings.

Just looked at HPA website, and it says the person is infectious until all scabbed over. It also plays 90% of people who are exposed become infected. sorry I cannot link.

That is guidance for school. I looked at the general guidance for chickenpox

"The average hysterical Mumsnetter" Bartlett?

www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/ChickenpoxVaricellaZoster/GeneralInformation/

Yes, as I said, they are still (mildly) infectious, but after 48 hours, really only due to close contact. The main way and the most common way that people are exposed is through respiratory secretions in the fortnight before and 48 hours after the spots appear.

Yes, condensedmilk. Medical knowledge and science has no place in these discussions when Other People Know Better.

But they are still infectious and therefore to take them to a location where you don't know if people are in danger if they contract it is daft.

www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Chickenpox/Pages/Prevention.aspx

Well, obviously you know better that Infectious Disease specialists then. The Health Protection Agency (which exists, as you might imagine, to protect health) is fine about children going back out into the wild 5 days after the spots have appeared. There are good medical reasons for that.

OP, go on holiday and enjoy it!