That you don’t take a toddler with chickenpox on a flight and the airline shouldn’t let you!

[DrWhy]

So we have just flown back on a 4 hour flight sitting behind a couple with a young baby and toddler. The toddler seemed very quiet and was already seated when we sat down so it was only when they got off I realised he was covered in spots and calamine lotion! Not scabbed over as far as I could see. I asked the Mum when we were collecting luggage and she confirmed that he did have chicken pox but said it was only contagious before the spots appear. I’m pretty sure this isn’t true!
So I’m 6 months pregnant- and have fortunately had chickenpox or it would be really risky but DS is 2 and hasn’t had it yet.
I can’t believe anyone would do this and the airline didn’t stop or challenge them.
Do the airline have any responsibility to prevent obviously contagious passengers boarding?
Is there any possibility at all that DS won’t get it? Is there anything we can do to help protect him now we know he’s been exposed? We have been dithering about getting the vaccine for ages and hadn’t because there doesn’t seem to be totally convincing evidence that it gives lifetime immunity- the vaccine data sheet itself only claims 10 years but would giving it now help or is it too late once he’s been exposed?
I’m obviously worried about complications for him and how unpleasant it will be but I also start a new job role on return from this trip and am still covering my old one, DH is busy too and we have no family help for childcare so I’ve no idea how we’d manage a week or two off nursery if he gets it.

My son swerved it about 12 times at nursery and school before he finally caught it off his little sister. So no, he may not get it.

However having seen a 2 year old and a five year old have it a week apart I reckon it’s better to get it younger. This is clearly anecdata so take it as you wish.

It’s fucking inconvenient whenever they get it tbh.

Deep breath.

I'd be apoplectic with rage if this happened to us so I feel your pain.

Chicken pox has an 80-90% attack rate (can't remember which off top of head) so unfortunately there's a good chance he'll get it.

They're contagious until spots have scabbed so the mum is talking bollocks.

There's nothing you can do to prevent it now. Tbf the virus is highly prevalent so he would have got it at some point anyway, not that this helps you.

IMO airlines do have a responsibility to prevent boarding to those with infectious diseases. The fact that they were seated as you boarded suggests someone knew.

Honestly, I'd complain to the airline. It won't change anything fir your DS but what has happened should have. I've known people be prevented from boarding with chicken pox before and they've just had to claim on their travel insurance to extend their stay until DC fit to fly.

If it's any consolation I had to take a week off work in a new job when DC got badly timed chicken pox. It's just life. DH shared the load though, as yours should to.

It's most contagious before spots appear, but it is still contagious before they scab. I can only imagine they had got a dr's certificate to say they could fly otherwise the airline surely would have refused travel? Most inconsiderate IMO. Hopefully as it should be less contagious your ds will escape it!

I would be really angry and would be putting a complaint in to the airline. There is a possibility your child won't get it, but it will be a couple of weeks until you'll know for sure

I can’t believe they let them on the flight when he was visibly ill??? I’d be so annoyed if I were you. Hope ur ds swerves it OP

I think you might be ok to still get the vaccine? Call GP tomorrow maybe? Also, I know you said you’d had the CP already but you might want to speak to your midwife as when my DD had her vaccine we were told specifically to avoid pregnant women

I’d complain more about YOU getting exposed than your dc tbh

I would be really fucked off. I’m on medication which means chickenpox could be really bad for me like it can be in pregnancy. Airplanes are breeding grounds for all sorts < not envy

Thanks folks. DH is seething and will almost certainly complain to the airline. If I’d noticed it before we got off I’d have mentioned it to the cabin crew. I have little hope that the airline asked for a Drs note given that I’m 30 weeks with a massive bump and no one was remotely interested in seeing my fit to fly letter.
Will call GP in the morning - or maybe NHS direct. Can let midwife know too but I doubt they’ll be anything they can do even if there is a risk to me.
I know it’s a pain whenever they get it and would be just as much as if a pain if I was home on mat leave with a newborn but I’m totally kicking myself now for not getting him vaccinated.

There is evidence that having the vaccination after exposure can prevent it fully developing or at least lessen the symptoms, so I would try and get it done tomorrow

You need to check when you are infectious with chicken pox, becuase there are 2 ways of catching it.

1. by being close to someone
2. from the fluid in the spots

The advice has changed in the last 5-10 years. It used to be until scabbed over to make sure you didn't catch it through method 2. But with 1. you are infectious before spots come out and then for a few days. So if you have had spots for a week, you are no longer infectious airborne.

To be honest. if they are coming back from holiday and child got sick while away, they are a bit stuck really.

What twats.

Def call your MW or GP tomorrow.

Sometimes they want to do your bloods yo check your immunity level.
There is medication or vaccine injection I believe that is given if needed.
Friend had to have it as her bloods showed no immunity. She had it 3 times as a child.

My youngest had the vaccination the day after exposure (coincidence, it had been arranged months before). He got a very, very mild case (2 spots that just disappeared again, no scabbing etc)

I would have been absolutely fuming in your position! I think I would've said something to her.

I haven't had CP and had a scare this last pregnancy with a family member not bothering to tell us their child had it before we visited (we spoke on the phone before going!). I left immediately once we realised and went straight to the doctors the next morning for a blood test. Luckily I was immune otherwise they mentioned all sorts of scary things, I think I was 39 weeks though and the risk was that the baby could be born with CP

It’s not on. Chicken pox can be dangerous, particularly to pregnant women, and those like me with autoimmune illnesses, definitely complain.

I'd be extremely distressed, I still haven't had them and I'm very aware of how nasty it can be as an adult. I didn't have any childhood vaccinations so I would because very unwell. Some people are so inconsiderate

The chicken pox vaccine can be taken up to 72 hours after exposure and it greatly reduces the chance of getting chicken pox (I think it’s about 75% effective after exposure), plus if he does get it then the effects will be reduced

Also, there’s no evidence that the vaccine wears off. Evidence from the US, where they have vaccinated for a long time, still show full effectiveness in adulthood

I innocently traveled with dd, all fine until during the flight I literally saw spots appearing before my eyes!
Cringed that someone would notice, bf her most of the journey and wrapped her fully getting off.
Can't imagine I would have travelled if I had known.

A few facts here:

1. Yes, chicken pox is most contagious before they get spots BUT it is also contagious until all spots have scabbed.

1. In some areas chicken pox is a reportable disease. I'm surprised they would let this child board an airplane.

1. If she has had chicken pox OP should be immune BUT should check with her provider. Normally chicken pox vaccine cannot be given in pregnancy because it's a live vaccine. These are not safe for pregnancy. I do not know if a killed vaccine is available.

1. If OP's child is 2 he should be old enough to get the vaccine. Her provider can advise her as to next steps.

My son swerved it about 12 times at nursery and school before he finally caught it off his little sister. So no, he may not get it.

This happened to my DC too (although he still hasn't caught them!) he was at nursery 5 mornings a week and there was about 5 seperate "outbreaks" including a few of his closest friends who he had contact with before they got spots. If your DS had no actual contact with the child theres a chance he may not get it, and even if he does a lot of children get only a few spots and mild symptoms so I wouldn't panic.

If possible though I'd avoid nursery/parties for a week or so incase he has caught it and is contagious now.

I think that you have about a four day window to get a CP vaccine after knowingly being exposed to the virus in order to definitely avoid it.

A couple of weeks before being vaccinated my DS was sat at school all day right next to a child who came down with CP two days later and he still didn't get it.

YANBU to think that the airline should not have let them fly. I also think that there should be some kind of public health campaign about when CP is contagious, that popping out to the shops when your child's spots aren't scabbed over isn't ok, and the dangers of exposing pregnant/immune suppressed people to the virus. Having read some of the threads on here, the amount of misinformation is shocking.

Go and get a vaccination ASAP for your little boy.
This is pretty much the only developed country that doesn’t vaccinate. It’s crazy.

I would complain to airline. Mostly because you're 6 months pregnant as well as having a toddler.

People are so selfish

Sedona123

Definitely, chicken pox can be very dangerous to people who are immunocompromised. As a rule, pregnant women, children under 1 year, and immunocompromised people can't get the chicken pox vaccine because it's live.

For most people, chicken pox is a relatively mild illness, but it can get very serious. You can get pneumonia and skin and other infections from it. I was told in nursing school of a case where a child got it. I think he was about 10 or so. His mum was a really good mum and keeping an eye on him. One morning she went in to wake him up and realized something was very wrong. A single lesion had gotten infected and the infection spread to his heart, causing endocarditis. He had a stroke as a result. In total, his care and rehabilitation likely cost the health care system C$1-2 million, which is about £600,000-1,200,000. Keep in mind that was about 13 years ago, so the costs would have gone up by now.

To put your mind at rest my eldest got chicken pox a month before my youngest was born. You need to check you are immune (a simple blood test via GP or midwife) as there is something they can give you if you're not. If you've had CP you will most likely be immune. I & my babies were both fine and my toddler's had cleared up before the baby was born. I have witnessed older (school age) kids with CP and it already seems worse than for toddlers- could be good to get it over with!