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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Chickenpox and a&e

78 replies

Iloveanimals · 05/11/2017 12:45

So I was on antibiotics which made me come out in a huge rash from head to toe. Servere allergic reaction and was told to go up. Whilst there, a couple with a child came in. Child with a few spots. Mum announced to everyone that daughters class had chickenpox last week with few being sent home. They'd brought child in just to "check" if it was chickenpox. Daughter seemed fine in herself. Low and behold she's seen and yes she has chickenpox. Now the whole waiting room (full of tiny babies) has been contaminated. If I'm being unreasonable then I apologise, but isn't this dangerous?? If a child's really ill with it then I completely understand but just to check?? Is this OK or AIBU?

OP posts:

SparklyLeprechaun · 05/11/2017 12:48

Stupid thing to do, going to A&E for a chickenpox check. They could have given their GP a call. Some people really are careless idiots.

superking · 05/11/2017 12:49

YANBU. How stupid. I would be raging.

Original poster

Iloveanimals · 05/11/2017 12:53

One lady actually turned round and said, that child shouldn't be here. Parents said " I know but they said to sit here with everyone else"

OP posts:

May09Bump · 05/11/2017 12:57

Stupid, stupid person - only would have took a call to GP.

We had hand, foot and mouth - I googled rash, called GP for advice and they asked us to come in but in a separate door to a specific room for the GP. I would never have took them in without calling. Only reason for taking them into A&E would have be severe lethagy / high fever and in distress.

People are really crap and self centered - thanks to the people who walked past us in Center Parcs swimming pool, with a son with a case of hand, foot and mouth in full swing. I've had two little ones with really bad symptoms and possibly scarring for two weeks - god know how many people they infected. I hope Karma catches up with them and they get a massive case of shingles (not their son).

Moanyoldcow · 05/11/2017 13:00

I came on to say Chickenpox can be serious as my best friend's daughter was blue lighted to hospital with complications due to chickenpox - I assumed that this would be a situation like that.

What you describe is unbelievable - I can't believe how inconsiderate people are sometimes.

Increasinglymiddleaged · 05/11/2017 13:01

How ridiculous. I thought you were going to say that the child was actually sick why on earth would you take a child to a and e with a few spots whatever the cause..?

BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot · 05/11/2017 13:02

Stupid cow! (Her not you) I had the same at the local walk in centre recently - child blatantly had chicken pox and was sat there happy as Larry among the crowds.

Glumglowworm · 05/11/2017 13:03

Yanbu

The only chicken pox cases that should go to a&e are the ones that actually need a&e treatment due to complications or severity of symptoms

An otherwise healthy child who has no complications or underlying conditions and who is well in themselves does not need a&e treatment.

I wish the staff were able to tell people to sod off home though

MagicTapeDispenser · 05/11/2017 13:04

Hospital should have placed them in an isolated room as soon as they booked in.

My 3yo DD and I both came down with chickenpox at the same time 12 years ago. I rang the GP surgery for advice as we both suffered with severe eczema and were struggling.

We were seen within the hour and met at a side door, before being taken to a remote examination room.

At no point were we in contact with anyone other than the practice manager and GP.

Original poster

Iloveanimals · 05/11/2017 13:09

If a child's ill with it they deserve to be seen 100%.. But just to check... 😂... It's crazy!!

OP posts:

Fishfingersandwichnocheese · 05/11/2017 13:13

TBH hospital shouldn't have let them sit with the other patients either.

Original poster

Iloveanimals · 05/11/2017 13:17

@fishfingersandwich agreed.

OP posts:

TakeMe2Insanity · 05/11/2017 13:17

Ok to get them check it was chicken pox was unreasonable HOWEVER when my DS had chicken pox he then fell over and injured himself. We took him to a and e, we had to. DH and DS waited outside a and e while I went and spoke to them, got him booked in and they organised a quarantine room. Then when it was organised then they escorted him in. So it possible to take someone to a and e with something infectious and for the situation not to be reasonable.

TakeMe2Insanity · 05/11/2017 13:20

I mean for the situation to be reasonable

IggyAce · 05/11/2017 13:20

She could have taken them to a local pharmacy to be checked for chicken pox. I had to take my DS to the gp when he had chicken pox at 9 months I told reception straight away and we were put in our own room away from everyone else.

Sirzy · 05/11/2017 13:23

As others have said hospital where as bad for not immediately putting them in an isolation room. She shouldn’t have been there in the first place but as she was staff should have took steps to protect others.

Ds had to go to a and e when he had chicken pox as he ended up with pneumonia at the same time but we phoned ahead and let them know so they could be ready.

NeedsAsockamnesty · 05/11/2017 13:33

I see this being advised all the time in bloody parenting groups.

It annoys me lots why would you even need to check what it is it’s likely to be obvious a few hours after the first few spots turn up.

Granted if a complication is happen then yep get medical attention and get it quick but for normal chicken pox just keep your damn kid away from everybody else

DesignedForLife · 05/11/2017 13:44

YANBU, but the hospital should have sent them to separate waiting room.

When DS was covered in chicken pox aged 4 months and I took him to OOH over concerns on a couple (which ended in raging ear infections with puss coming out his ears) they stuck us in a side room so as to minimise the risk to others.

coddiwomple · 05/11/2017 13:47

So you expect people without a medical training to know that their kids have chicken pox? What are parents supposed to do? Wait a week or 2 to get an appointment with their GP?

No ,of course it's not unreasonable to have the child seen by a medical professional! What stupid country do we live in. (Disclaimer: I wouldn't take any of mine to A&E for such a thing)

When I had chicken pox as a child, my mum called a GP and they came round to our house. These were the days, and I have a toddler myself I am not that old.

Chicken pox can be very nasty. Going to A&E is over the top, but seeing a professional about it is absolutely not.

helpfulperson · 05/11/2017 13:49

Whilst taking your child to A&E with chickenpox in terms of infectiousness that is more or less over with chickenpox by the time you get the spots.

Sirzy · 05/11/2017 13:51

So you expect people without a medical training to know that their kids have chicken pox?

Yes. As the vast majority of people do. Or if in doubt then that’s exactly what pharmacists are there for!

Bubblebubblepop · 05/11/2017 13:52

I've noticed people in the U.K. Have become really overly dramatic about chicken pox and I wonder if that's what's fuelling stupid woman's hypochondria about her daughter having it?

I think you're being a bit dramatic about it too though OP.

coddiwomple · 05/11/2017 13:53

As the vast majority of people do.

absolute bollocks. Most people I have seen either have access to decent medical advice, or private doctors in this country, or post photos on facebook begging others to help identifying the rash/spot.
Basically asking complete strangers for medical advice. What a great country we live in.

GrockleBocs · 05/11/2017 13:57

In a straightforward case of chicken pox there's no reason to see a GP. Most people manage to figure out it's probably chicken pox and the symptoms can be treated with otc medicines.
Yes if there are complications it can be very bad but most people don't have them.

permatiredmum · 05/11/2017 13:57

without knowing the child's medical history, yabu.maybe she has a compromised immune system, or maybe she has a sibling undergoing chemo for example

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