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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

D+V 48 hour rule and traveling on a plane and train?

31 replies

bluecheeseforbreakfast · 16/12/2013 19:05

Ds (11 months) has his 1st tummy bug. We are due to fly to the UK in 48 hours.

The flight is 2 hours and the train journy once we get to the UK is 4 hours.

Ds was sick for the last time yesterday morning but he has been having diarrhea and has a fever and is not his usual self today.

Is the 48 hour rule 48 hours after poo becomes firm again or is it only vomiting?

WWYD? If it was a case of should I take ds to playgroup I would er on the side of caution but it is a big trip, we can't afford to fly later and we won't have any Christmas plans if we don't go, but I don't want to give all the other passengers the christmas gift of d+v.

OP posts:
BerryChristmas · 16/12/2013 19:59

If he was sick for the last time yesterday, I am sure you will be ok to travel. Enjoy the holidays.

laraeo · 16/12/2013 20:32

It's supposed to be from the last bout of D&V. So you're clear on the V but not on the D. If he's got a fever that's another item to be clear of.

Having said that, I think 24 hours clear of everything & you should be okay. Especially if it's big flights and you don't have much choice.

The BRAT diet is your friend - if DC even wants to eat. Just keep getting fluids in.

Good luck.

Original poster
bluecheeseforbreakfast · 16/12/2013 20:48

Thanks for the advice :)

I guess on a plane he is unlikely to be sucking other babies toys or hands so it is a little different to a nursery/playgroup enviroment.

We will take lods of anti bac wipes and clean the changing table after use (will probably be cleaner than when we got there!) If we need to change him (wees I can change with him standing on my knee)

His fever is staying down now (with calpol) last night it wouldn't go down but hopefully we are going in the right direction!

OP posts:
monkeynuts123 · 16/12/2013 21:02

Well I wouldn't want you on the plane next to me. I think he sounds still ill.

CrohnicallySick · 16/12/2013 21:33

The 48 hour rule is because they can still be shedding virus particles in their poo. So children go to school, have a poo, flush and poo particles fly everywhere, they then don't wash their hands properly and it spreads.

As he's still in nappies, I'd say it's less of a concern as you can take the necessary precautions.

However, anti bac stuff will do nothing against a stomach bug as they are viruses. I would take a travel mat that you can use if he needs changing (and don't bother changing wees on the plane or train, disposable nappies can cope that long). Wash your hands properly (soap and water, not anti bac) after changing him, even wees.

LST · 16/12/2013 22:28

I wouldn't cancel a trip if it's how you have described.

ReallyTired · 16/12/2013 22:31

I think you can go ahead and fly. Children get over tummy bugs faster than adults because they have a tiny gut.

I hope you have a lovely christmas.

WhereDoAllTheCalculatorsGo · 16/12/2013 22:33

There is no law. Just go, he'll be fine :)

justmuddlingalongsomehow · 16/12/2013 22:40

Yes - just go. What do you care whether he infects anyone else on the plane or the train who is travelling home for the holidays. Angry The 48 hour rule is for episodes of d or v. I think you know that really and just want someone else to tell you it's ok so you can pass the responsibility.

Poor little blighter has a temperature to boot. People like you make me Angry. I certainly wouldn't want to sit anywhere near you and your lo's diarrhoea-ry nappies for any time at all, let alone a 2 hour plane journey.

hmc · 16/12/2013 22:42

Take the flight.

It's D&V not bubonic plague & your insurance won't pay out on a cancelled flight due to D&V

Being realistic - there will be other passengers on that plane who are infectious either knowingly or unwittingly so your altruism is a bit of a pointless exercise

Original poster
bluecheeseforbreakfast · 16/12/2013 22:42

His fever hasn't risen again and tge calpol has worn off!i hope thats the end of that! No more dirty nappies either so if that continues it will be exactly 48 hours.

We will take our own mat and only change if necessary.

Now I just hope neither dp or myself gets ill! Ds has been doing his best to make sure we share his germs!

OP posts:
Original poster
bluecheeseforbreakfast · 16/12/2013 22:45

Justmuddling ds is my 1st child and this is his first tummy bug. I have only ever heard about the 48 hour rule on mumsnet so that is why I was asking.

OP posts:
laraeo · 17/12/2013 00:58

I think the same as hmc. There will certainly be other people on the flight who have something or other.

If his fever is down that's excellent and hopefully he's on the mend!Grin

I also didn't know anything about the magical 48-hour rule until coming to Mumsnet so I think you're in fine company. Wink

deXavia · 17/12/2013 01:10

Take lots of nappies and changes of clothes for both of you.
Memorably DD at 18 monthsand who was totally fine at home, just after take off on a12 hour flight started diarrhea! I went though the 10 nappies I'd packed and was actively scanning the plane for people with similar aged babies in case she went through number 10 before we landed
Try and sit in a aisle and be sure to wipe everything and clear up after any changes.

IHeartKingThistle · 17/12/2013 01:15

Hmc, I hope you never have my experience but you might understand better if you had. I got a nasty tummy bug from a friend's child which for some reason. 4 years later I have just come off medication and am starting to eat a full range of foods again. I was really very poorly for a long time, I missed out on a lot of DC2's babyhood as I couldn't look after him properly, I have a gallstone due to rapid weight loss, oh and it all started with a ruined Christmas. So no, not bubonic plague, but it would have been a whole lot better for me if that child had stayed at home. And I had no underlying health problems at all.

Not trying to influence you OP, just trying to add some perspective to all the flippancy.

IHeartKingThistle · 17/12/2013 01:16

Sorry, 2nd sentence made no sense. For some reason it basically knocked out my system.

MrsTerrysChocolateOrange · 17/12/2013 03:37

Well, I can tell you that the bloody airlines don't care. DD had bad D & V last year and we were flying (home so had to go). I called the airline and offered to take a later flight. Nope, I had to pay for another flight or fly with a sick baby. I didn't have money for another flight.

WaitMonkey · 17/12/2013 05:37

Please don't change your baby on your knee in the plane. It really isn't nice for other people, even if it is just wee. Hmm Please use the toilets and use soap and water to wash your hands. The 48 hour rule isn't just a MN thing. It's very sensible DOH advice. I suspect those who haven't heard of it have dc under school age.

ProudAS · 17/12/2013 07:20

Other passengers can't catch d&v simply by breathing the same air as your DS. Its ingestion of poo droplets that does that so be very careful about hygiene if you do travel. (I assume he's stopped throwing up.)

Do you have travel insurance? If so you may be able to get a refund/re arrange journey if medically necessary.

ProudAS · 17/12/2013 07:51

Sorry forgot to mention - UK train loos often don't have handwash so bring some with you.

Where do you live OP and do they have the 48 hour rule there?

FinallyGotAnIPhone · 17/12/2013 07:55

Didn't realise there was a 'rule". I think you just have to assess whether your ds is well enough to fly or not don't you and make a sensible decision.

This happened to me with my two year old last year shed had a vomiting bug for a few days before we were meant to go. I thought she was ok as she hadn't puked for 20 hours or so. I made the mistake of giving her some food at the airport. ERROR she puked everywhere at the transit airport. Absolutely hideous and we were rushing for the next plane, I was on my own with her etc. luckily I'd taken a change clothes for her. I just ended up chucking her clothes away in he airport toilet! Good luck OP. Don't forget.... Don't give him any food!

skaen · 17/12/2013 07:56

We had to cancel our holiday a couple of years ago when both DS and DD came down with a D&V bug the night before we were due to travel. The insurance paid out with no fuss at all.

Original poster
bluecheeseforbreakfast · 17/12/2013 08:53

I live in Sweden, I'm sure they do have some sort of rule but my ds is not in nursery yet so the rule hasn't been explained to me.

I'd change his wee nappy on my knee but in a toilet area ( not on the plane) because he will not lie still! I will usual wash my hands.

I wouldn't have flown with him if he had feverish with diarrhea, I was thinking if for example he stopped having diarrhea today and we only had 24 till the flight would that be ok as it was days ago that he vomited.

He kept all food down yesterday and he has only had ( his usual) one morning poo today, no dirty nappies in the night and no fever so it looks like he is well even when taking the 48 hour rule in its strictest form.

Do adults also avoid any contact with other people for 48 hours after vomiting or diarrhea? Do you really take 2 days of work when your perfectly well to be on the safe side?

OP posts:
ReastieYuleANBU · 17/12/2013 08:59

Yes it's 48 hours after last episode of D or V. However, if you do end out travelling, can't reiterate enough the usual hand gels don't work often on tummy bugs, something like milton hand gel is better as it also works on viruses including norovirus. You can also buy milton sterilising wipes for wiping changing mat/bag etc too.

ProudAS · 17/12/2013 10:16

NHS advice is for adults to stay at home for 48 hours but most workplaces have other ideas and DCs can't be kept off school because parent been throwing up and nobody else to take them.

Where I work people tend to go in due to lack of sick pay and threat of redundancy but cleaning desks afterwards and not touching other people's food seems to stop it spreading. IMO infection control measures should be proportional to the risk and it doesn't take a genius to work out that risks are far greater for a toddler attending nursery than for an adult office worker.

I think its a case of the NHS worrying about getting sued and concerns about people understanding advice which is slightly complex. A few years ago they started advising women to completely avoid alcohol during pregnancy - not because of evidence that one unit a week would harm the baby but because some people don't know what a unit is.