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Original poster

WWYD - Flying with Chickenpox

87 replies

PoxyProblems · 22/10/2018 14:18

I've name changed for this because the scenario is very specific/identifying.

We (me, DH, DD4 and DS2) are due to fly abroad on Friday. We are supposed to be away for 1 week over half term staying with friends. DD had chickenpox last week, the spots appeared last Monday, she has not been too ill with it, they are all scabbed over and she is back in school today

But I am assuming DS will now get it. If he gets it before Friday, fine. We just cancel and claim on our travel insurance. But what if he doesn't? NHS website says the incubation period can be anything from 1 to 3 weeks so its entirely possible he will be fine to fly out but could get it while we are away.

If he did get it while we are out there, the main problem is that the friends we are staying with have a 3yo who hasn't had it, and would be exposed to it. But more importantly, they run a business that involves frequent contact with children so I could be potentially introducing chickenpox to their business, which obviously I don't want to do.

I don't think the insurance will pay out on the assumption that he will get ill as he won't have doctors certificate. The flights are non-refundable/changeable. DH has volunteered to stay behind with DS and I take DD away, but I'm loathed to do this because we hardly get to spend any time together as a family, plus I don't really like the thought of being away from DS if he's ill.

Do I risk going? What are the chances he might not get it at all? I don't think there is any real answer to this, I just wanted to vent and hope that someone can come up with a magic solution that I haven't thought of!

OP posts:
Original poster
PoxyProblems · 22/10/2018 16:03

NorthernKnickers I'm very sorry about your friend. And obviously I would never do it with a child I knew had CP. But because I don't know for sure that DS has it/will get it, I guess that's what is making me question things.

OP posts:
amicissimma · 22/10/2018 16:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
PoxyProblems · 22/10/2018 16:06

I guess my best hope is that he gets it in the next few days and then I can claim on the insurance.

Does anyone know how promptly I might need to submit a medical form? As in could I start a claim, and then submit the form in a few days time if/when the spots come out? (Suspect this may be fraudulent though)

OP posts:
sleepylittlebunnies · 22/10/2018 16:09

You can’t catch shingles from chicken pox though.

sleepylittlebunnies · 22/10/2018 16:14

My DS didn’t catch chicken pox from kids we’d gone on holiday with but got it a month later from nursery. DD1 got it 3 weeks to the day after him. I really thought we’d dodged it but she got it far worse than him.

What day do you travel? I personally wouldn’t cancel unless he is feeling poorly or comes out in the pox before you go.

Potterpotty · 22/10/2018 16:14

My DD1 caught CP and then exactly 3 weeks later DD2 got it, but they had both been around other kids that had it and didn't catch it.

I would say go because if you cancel and he doesn't get it you will have lost money for nothing. Also if your friends run a day care facility and their DS attends he has do they keep him off when CP is going around and who is to say it will be your DS that gives it to him. Also if he does come down with CP then the heat and sunshine will speed up the healing process. Don't forget to take medicine with you in case you can't get any out there.

All of the people saying not to fly just in case, what about any one who has a cold or d&v, they are incubating something which could potentially be dangerous to others. So I would say go and have a good time.

VenusInSpurs · 22/10/2018 16:19

All the siblings I know (including mine) got it very quickly in quick succession of each other.

If he doesn't have symptoms, I would go.

Original poster
PoxyProblems · 22/10/2018 16:21

we travel this coming Friday

OP posts:
elliejjtiny · 22/10/2018 16:24

When my ds had chicken pox his younger brother had to stay away from preschool from when my older son was ill until my younger son had got it and all his spots had scabbed over. Was 4 weeks in total.

Mehaveit · 22/10/2018 16:26

5 year old DD had it and never passed it on to 3 year old DD. It's not certain.

Toughtips · 22/10/2018 16:28

No spots then go. He isnt forced to get it.

People saying its unfair to fly with a child purely on a maybe are bonkers.

If hes poorly then fair enough. Spot free child though, youd be mad not to.

There's a chance your friends child will come into contact with cp eventually anyway.

ADastardlyThing · 22/10/2018 16:28

I'd still go, my DS has been exposed to CP at least 4 times now and hasn't caught it.

Quartz2208 · 22/10/2018 16:30

You cant simply not go on the chance he has chicken pox - the fact his sister had it does not necessarily mean he will

IF he either has spots or is not feeling well then dont go. Otherwise go

RedDrink · 22/10/2018 19:48

As long as he isn't covered in spots, so obviously ill, then I'd go. Cancelling on a maybe is ridiculous.

With colds, flu, and many other contagious illnesses you can be contagious before showing symptoms, so before you even know you're ill. So maybe none of us should ever leave the house...just in case. 😂

For what it's worth I got chickenpox twice, so even if you've had it before you're still not always safe. Can't live your life in a plastic bubble though.

Beautifulsunshine · 22/10/2018 19:56

My first Child was Exposed to the pox multiple times on the days before the
Spots showed up and while children were spotty. He did not catch them any of those times so in the end I gave him the vaccination. The first
Time he was exposed (under some poor advice from friends) we stayed in for 2 weeks (was a sahm at the time) and no spots appeared. Unless he is spotty I would go

Crunchymum · 22/10/2018 19:57

You go with your DD. Seems the most sensible option - and I'm only basing this on the fact their child hasnt had it and they run a nursery!

I haven't had CP (all my siblings had it when we were young apart from me) but as I'm now immunosuppressed if I come into contact with anyone who has CP I need to contact my consultant for advice Shock

Xmasbaby11 · 22/10/2018 20:01

He may well not get it though. Dd2 got chicken pox earlier in the year and dd1 never caught it.

This was despite the fact they share a bedroom, are often very close and cuddly and had been together 24 hours a day as it was the end of the holidays.

I would go ahead with the holiday.

MrsRachel85 · 22/10/2018 20:03

I was in this position in the summer. DD was exposed to the virus 2 weeks before we were due to fly to Spain. We really thought he was going to get it while we away. We risked it and he didn’t get it luckily! I’d go if I were you. How annoyed would you be if you didn’t go and then they didn’t get it anyway.

KickAssAngel · 22/10/2018 20:04

I didn't have CP until I was an adult. At one time we'd been doing wrestling in PE class in school, and 2 of the people I'd wrestled with had spots coming out during that class (their parents told my mum the next day at school drop-off). I still didn't get CP then.

So - your DS could be incubating or not, who knows? Or any of you could have flu, or any other number of illnesses. Unless you know one of you has an illness, you carry on as normal.

dementedpixie · 22/10/2018 20:07

You don't get shingles from exposure to chicken pox. You need to have had chicken pox in the past to develop shingles. Shingles can pass on chicken pox but not vice versa.

If he is not showing signs then I would go.

Isittimeforbed · 22/10/2018 20:11

Go, although bear in mind that you may end up having to stay a few days longer if he gets it on holiday and can't fly back. If your friends are ok about it and they're in a country that doesn't routinely vaccinate then they're all going to be exposed to it at some point, no reason it can't be now.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 22/10/2018 20:15

Before you make any final decisions please call and book a telephone appointment with your doctor. They may write you a letter not to fly anyway to protect others or if they think it's more likely than not that he will get it

If not then speak to your insurers anyway. They will have to weigh up the potential costs of cancellation against the potential costs of medical treatment abroad, accommodation costs and then flying you all back later! They may just prefer you to cancel

If doctors and insurers are happy for you to go then I'd go for it.

You can also Google standard vaccination schedule of wherever you are going to - chicken pox vaccine is standard in places like Spain

Not sure there is much point in getting a vaccine now. There are 2 shots, one month apart. Apparently it takes 4 - 6 weeks to build up some immunity but may be earlier...I'd say it's unlikely it will offer any protection by Friday

LizzieBennettDarcy · 22/10/2018 20:16

You could be really lucky and your child not get it.

You could be really unlucky and they get it while you are away. That could mean not being able to fly back until the spots have scabbed over.... if you can afford the extra stay and new flights, then fine. My eldest had it and was fine, but she gave it to our youngest (6 months) who ended up in hospital. I'd also check with your travel insurance that you're covered for the above possibilities if one child has already had it.

I wouldn't take the risk personally.

AmIRightOrAMeringue · 22/10/2018 20:16

I say this as sometimes doctors advise not to fly because of something that might happen rather than something that already has happened such as some pregnancy complications

Scottishgirl85 · 22/10/2018 20:19

Definitely go unless he gets it before Friday. You can't put your life on hold for something that may not happen. Any child who hasn't had CP before may have it on a flight before symptoms show. Yes it's dangerous for immunosuppressed and pregnant people, but there is no rule to say kids can't fly if they haven't yet had CP, that would be madness! Your friend's son will get it at some point anyway. Just have a plan in place in case you get stuck out there.