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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think we can't go on holiday tomorrow?

49 replies

Annajohnsdottir · 16/09/2018 12:26

We're due to go on holiday tomorrow morning but my 18 month old has woken up this morning with what I think is hand foot and mouth. He's got a rash on his hand, feet, around his mouth, thighs and bum and elbows. He had a terrible night last night but I put it down to teething. When I saw the rash I gave him piriton this morning but it's definitely not receeding.

We're meant to be sharing accommodation with 2 other couples and their kids. We can't go, can we?

OP posts:

spinabifidamom · 16/09/2018 13:47

The day before we returned we completely ran out of our son’s lifesaving bladder medication. Luckily we avoided any issues that might have occurred as a result of a really quick response on my part. I upped his cathing schedule and called the doctor upon returning for another prescription. Ring your holiday company and explain everything carefully.

sprinklesandsauce · 16/09/2018 13:49

www.nhs.uk/conditions/hand-foot-mouth-disease/

The NHS guidelines say to send them to school or nursery if they are feeling better, so as PP have said, it's not an exlusion illness now.

I would ask the other families how they feel about it (in case one is pregnant and hasn't told anyone yet).

brizzledrizzle · 16/09/2018 13:50

As it's so contagious nearly all children have had it and the chances are your friend's children have. Ask them what they think and be prepared not to go but otherwise I'd go - you must tell them though in case one of them is pregnant.

Quartz2208 · 16/09/2018 13:52

If it is HFM it not an exclusion illness anymore -

brokenharbour · 16/09/2018 13:53

Speak to your friends and see if their children have had it, it's really really common in nursery settings. It might not be a problem if they have.

foxotterhare · 16/09/2018 13:53

Probably not. What a pity.

Aragog · 16/09/2018 13:53

www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/Guidance_on_infection_control_in%20schools_poster.pdf

There is no exclusion period for HFM in schools. Even if you hand travel insurance they wouldn't be likely to pay out as its not deemed necessary to cancel. Its not on the exclusion list for a few planes.

Id speak to a doctor and get a proper diagnosis, and advice and take it from there.

And speak to the other families.

foxotterhare · 16/09/2018 13:54

Can I just stress that no holiday is worth passing HFM on to other children.

glagdy · 16/09/2018 13:59

All of you saying that schools don't exclude as they're contagious before symptoms show are missing the point. These kids will all have been exposed together.

Unless op has seen this family in the last few days it's totally different.

And hygiene won't stop it.

In the last three weeks every single kid under the age of 6 in our area had it. Literally 1000's. From newborns to kindergarten kids.

It's even spread through the professional baseball leagues and has caused game cancellations.

glagdy · 16/09/2018 14:01

There are different strains of hfm too.

Just because they've had it doesn't meant they won't get it again, lots of the kids that have recently had it here have had it before.

Some of the kids (my ds) weren't too bad at all.

Some were running fevers of 104 for days and had horrific blisters everywhere including in their mouths so they couldn't eat or drink.

It's not always a mild illness.

foxotterhare · 16/09/2018 14:03

Its not on the exclusion list for a few planes.

[Selfishly clutches at straws.]

Aragog · 16/09/2018 14:03

It's contagious but good hygiene can limit cross contamination.

We've had children at school have it and it hasn't spread throughout the class.

My sister had it as a small child. No one else in the family got it.

Whilst it can be very contagious, and is unpleasant, it is not a exclusion disease and a lot of cross contamination can be managed if care is taken.

However, I wouldn't just turn up. I would speak to the there families, having spoken to a doctor to have it conformed, and take it from here.

Aragog · 16/09/2018 14:07

Its not on the exclusion list for a few planes.

[Selfishly clutches at straws.]

No. Im not being selfish. Just stating information that is out there about this disease. I don't have it. My child doesn't have it. So that information isn't about, or for me.

I also have suppressed immunity and am unable to use certain antibiotics, so such infectious diseases can be more of a concern for myself to have.

But none of that takes away from the fact that HFM is not an exclusion disease in most situations.

I just have to do what I can to keep myself fit and healthy, and maintain good hygiene for myself to reduce my own likelihood of catching them.

Aragog · 16/09/2018 14:10

I also mentioned the flight aspect as this is an area where you really are cooped together in a small space. Though not relevant in this situation, as the holiday is in the UK, it may be for others.

But the bottom line is that travel insurance is unlikely to pay out if you cancel a holiday for HFM. Therefore, the chances are people will still travel, as they are allowed to and wouldn't want to be losing out on hundreds/thousands of pounds.

I always take that kind of information in as, as said before, my own health can be affected by such things.

EK36 · 16/09/2018 14:37

Just go 2 days later..don't cancel the whole holiday.

MuncheysMummy · 16/09/2018 14:45

My little boy had it and felt lousy for a couple of days but no big deal and neither me nor my Dh caught it from him either we just gave him Calpol when he seemed to be feeling a bit rubbish and he picked right up, I’d plan to join them 2 days later as hopefully he will be on the better side of it by then

SD1978 · 16/09/2018 14:49

How old are the other children? How old is he? It's actually quite containable, good hand hygiene. If he's crawling all
Over the place and touching stuff- but harder. But good hand hygiene, otherwise adults would get it along with kids and they rarely do. The other couples may be relaxed about it- I know I would be.

foxotterhare · 16/09/2018 15:06

HFM is not an exclusion disease in most situations.

Don't be silly.

glagdy · 16/09/2018 15:20

Adults rarely get it because they're immune.

madja · 16/09/2018 15:28

Not the greatest picture, but each one of these bumps was a blister under the skin. It was like walking on needles!

chillpizza · 16/09/2018 15:46

I’d be careful you don’t get chucked off the site tbh. Butlins don’t mess around with catchy illness and are owned by the same company as haven. Park resorts/dean I don’t think are as hot on it.

I wouldn’t take a sick child on holiday though, my son had hand foot and mouth and although School said he could go in I didn’t send him. It wouldn’t of been fair on him or the other children.

ChimesAtMidnight · 16/09/2018 17:30

On the plus side op, if you don't go on holiday, you'll be there to ensure the kitchen/bathroom fitters do what you want them to do and not what they think you'd want them to do.

Aragog · 16/09/2018 18:16

in most situations.

Should have read 'on most planes'

Original poster

Annajohnsdottir · 16/09/2018 18:38

Thanks again for all your help and input everyone.

We've just got back from the doctors and they've said it is HFM Their advice was to not quarantine him and just manage it without exposing him to the vulnerable but I'm not comfortable taking that risk with my friends and the other tourists. I'm going to give it 2 days and see if we can go along after that. Being responsible really sucks sometimes lol.

OP posts:

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