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

90% of people who come into contact with the chicken pox virus will catch it. That is very contageous IMO. Stats from HPA.

yes thats what i thought valium it seems ds4 is a bit of a statistical anomly, ditto dd, i am sure they will get it at some point tho!

how contagious is the flu? are there any stats on that.

and i am right in thinking that a certain poster always comes on these threads to dismiss the concerns of those saying you shouldnt knowingly expose others to chickenpox and go out when contagious.

No idea about flu, and on phone so cannot google.

Your son clearly is a very special boy! Perhaps he is waiting for a really inconvenient time to catch it. My DD came out in spots about an hour after I broke my ankle.

oh yes i am sure he is waiting for the MOST inconvenient time, just like my ds1 did! (whilst trying to do my dissertation at uni) i am putting my bets on sept when he is due to start school and then when we have a holiday booked!

i saw you on the pox thread and your are preg and have a broken ancle, what a nightmare, hope your luck improves soon and you are all well again asap! xx

the idea that you should keep a child isolated because they have come into contact with chicken pox is beyond ridiculous. I didn't personally take my ds out when he had active cp but there is a vast difference between that and isolating a child for three weeks just in case.

The issue though is not knowing whether or not the child is actually infectious. There is always going to be a grey area. I personally stayed home when my son had chicken pox but it seemed to be a very mild case and no one who had been exposed before we knew got it, including the little boy who shares our nanny and opted to be exposed for the duration.

I definitely acknowledge the risks the op would be taking but if the infectious period was likely over I might take those risks.

I had two nieces aged 2 and 3. 3 yr old had cp, the 2 mums, my SILs decided it was a good idea to mix and get I t over and done with.

3 yr old neice is now 22 engaged, student nurse, own home
2 yr old neice is now 21 and profoundly disabled, can't walk upstairs alone and will never ever be able to live in her own home.

Cp attacked her brain stem. It may have happened if she'd caught it unknowingly, it might not.

That's a terrible story but it doesn't actually give any useful information to anyone. The virus would have come her way at some point, potentially with even worse consequences. Immunisation is recommended in many countries in any case so maybe it should be here. Obviously the nhs does not think it's worth the upfront costs.

Thank you 5madthings

The problem with immunising is it has a limited life span and limited level of effectiveness. If anything it would lead to more people getting it as adults therefore increasing the risk of complications.

Hi Mama
It is a tricky one I know, but I have to say what you say of your DS's existing medical problems makes me a little more nervous for you if you do go on this trip.

Yes, complications are rare, but my very healthy 11 mth old managed to nearly die of necrotizing fasciitis (the flesh eating bug ) as a complication of CP. He seemed to be getting over his spots: and then very quickly he became very ill. I hate to think what would have happened if we'd been abroad.

I thought any exposure lessened the effect of any further exposure, including through vaccination. My husband had the vaccine since no one seemed sure if he'd had it and he needed two doses but the first by itself reduced the likelihood or severity of infection. As I recall.

Don't do it. YABU to take the risk of exposing other people to the virus. It's shit, but a holiday is just a holiday.

I would investigate other travelling options if you really want to go on holiday but as others have posted I would also be worried about my child getting worse while abroad. Complications are rare but as you have suggested your little one has underlying health issues I would want to keep close to home just to be safe until he is better and then you can see?
There is such a big deal with chicken pox at the moment - those who have been affected by it and think of the possibilities and those who think 'oh it's just chicken pox'.
I never had chicken pox as a child - came into contact with it a lot but never got it. Didn't think about it much until pregnant with my first when the doctor asked if I'd ever had it and tested to be sure as she thought I may be naturally immune. The results came back that I wasn't and from then my entire pregnancy was months of worry. Obviously I felt it was my responsibility to try and stay away from places/people where I may catch it but every appointment I had at the doctors/midwife there was some child with chicken pox playing in the surgery! No consideration from the parents that as it was a doctors surgery there may actually be 'vunerable' people there! I had to wait outside for appointments and one woman actually shouted at me when her pox kid came running up to me and I asked her not to come near me as I was pregnant and never had chicken pox! I started to notice spotty kids everywhere and it was really stre

Sorry posted too soon...
Anyway (sorry its a long story)
Before getting pregnant with my 2nd I demanded the vaccination and was told by the nurse that as it was a live vaccine I was to not go out for the recommended 3 weeks incase I was to infect others. My daughter and I had a very boring 3 weeks stuck in but it was what was advised and the thought of how I would feel if I infected someone was too horrible to think about.
When pregnant with my second I was tested again and the vaccine hadn't worked! I was still at risk and so was my baby! So another 9 months of worry and me and my daughter avoiding everywhere the best I could because SOME people think 'it's only chicken pox what's the problem - most people have had them!'
I had to get 2 booster injections because I had came into contact with them unknowingly (finding out children had cp on Facebook). I had to listen to doctors say how dangerous it was if I was to get pregnant and be made to feel it was my fault if I caught it instead of people who know they/their children have it and keep them in!
Anyway, sorry rant over :)

Liswee, only something like 5 cases have ever been traced to transmission via the vaccine. Out of tens of millions vaccinations.

Op, I would not travel on public transport in your situation. In response to keeping children at home after exposure to cp incase a child comes down with it, from the end of Feb to mid May at least one of my 3 children have been 'possibly incubating', we would literally come out of one incubation period and go into another through exposures at school, pre school, tots groups and friends. There is no way I could keep them home from school ect for all that time, and we still haven't got it. I have on 3 occasions put ds2 under house arrest due to suspicious spots only for it to turn out to be another false alarm each time.

OP, it sounds like you are clutching at straws and calculating days in an attempt to justify getting on a train and possibly infecting a whole load of people.

I know it's terrible timing but please don't take your DS on the train while he is likely to still be infectious.

Please read the whole thread folks. Or at least skim through and read the OP's posts. She DOES understand the implications. She has already said that she will look into the alternative of going by an alternative means that doesn't risk the health of the potentially vulnerable.

"nemonemo: When you know your child has been in close vicinity with lots of CP, you keep them at home until the incubation period is passed, especially towards the end of the incubation period. If you need playdates, then you limit them to people you know are already immune."

Does that mean giving up work until your child has had chickenpox?

I'm all against taking an infectious child out (and stuck to the 5 days as per HPA advice with my older daughter), but I know my younger daughter has been exposed in nursery a few days ago. I don't and can't know whether she's caught it. Do you seriously suggest that I stay at home with her for 3 weeks to see whether it breaks out, and then another if it does? And repeat the 3 weeks every time there has been a case in the nursery until she definitely had caught it? Seriously?

Can I ask...

Do you or any of the party you are traveling with speak fluent French?
I think the risk of you needing some medical advice whilst you are away is pretty high and as such that needs to be a consideration.

Personally I wouldn't take the risk but it sounds to me like you have considered and covered the risks yourself. Just factor in the above.

Also, I hope the GP would have considered this but has you DS had sterios in last month? There is an increased risk with complications with chicken pox and steriods (sometimes given for issue with breathing).

QOD that is so sad .

It's ok, we didn't go. Supposed to be off this morning. I need a holiday like never before after the year we've just had (still haven't had a night out since DS arrived!). But really can't risk exposing people and he is still getting new spots - how long does this thing last??? Plus now DD has a temp (39.8 last night!) - could be the pox I guess, but as someone said, bit soon and also rare. More likely something else (but what? Temp only symptom!). So, we're going to do the tunnel and drive thing if/when everyone is well enough (pleeeeeease let that be soon!!). In your experience, oh wise people, when do the spots stop coming out and do the last ones progress quicker as it's going to be another week at this rate (our friends are only going to be there for a week). Feeling very glum this morning

Nicobean, how did your LO get necrotising fasciitis (sp?). One of DS's spots is a bit infected - getting a bit worried! GP gave us antibiotic cream and will give oral ABs if starts pussing (nice). Red area around it is spreading a bit though...

Sorry about your holiday mama. I think you did the right thing, but it is ok to be sad about it.
Hope both your DC improve soon.