To not keep poxy child in isolation

[FromCuddleLand]

Hello! We are on half term this week. Every year we take our DC to London for a few days to do the sites. This is the first year that we have planed to take the youngest. He is mega excited. We've booked the hotel (2 rooms, non refundable) and purchased tickets for one of the venues in advance.
Last night I noticed youngest was starting to look a bit spotty. Today he is pretty pickled and it is obvious it is chicken pox. He is ok in himself, cheery and bouncing around. I know that he would not be allowed in school but do I really have to not take him anywhere? (as far as I understand you are contagious before the spots show anyway). I really really don't want to cancel our trip. Am I being an arsehole or is it ok to take him? (most things were going to are outdoors). BTW have NC for this but have been on here since 2011.

Sorry your plans are ruined OP, that sucks. I hope your little one is better soon.

Kokeshi I agree. It's weird.

My understanding is you cannot get shingles if you've never had chicken pox so having chicken pox is no protection from shingles. I"ve has shingles, once, it was shit!

My son has been vaccinated against chicken pox so I hope he never gets shingles.

OP I am glad you have decided not to go.

YABVFU. and selfish. and to answer your question, yes if you do take him you are a total arsehole but i suspect that you'll do whatever you want and fuck everyone else because you're really, really looking forward to this trip. you must know that until all the spots have scabbed over your kid is extremely infectious, and therefore dangerous to anyone who is immuno-compromised. but hey, as long as you're all having fun, eh?

On average 25 people a year die from chicken pox in the uk, you are being very very unreasonable indeed to ask if you should go on your holiday OP

He shouldn't be running about but if he's still small enough to be in a buggy and will stay in it you could be in the parks etc. Just don't let him interact with others and avoid close proximity eg restaurants

NO, stay home.. You would also be going in a hotel or wherever, and a warm environment,and could affect other children there, or anyone in fact.

My son went through a year of chemo in London hospitals. God help us if we'd run in to someone like you putting others at risk,he wouldn't be here that's for sure. It's not just about how well your child is/what they might miss out on/how quick you can be/how much of his spots you can cover/that it's a complete pain in the arse to be stuck inside...it's about not putting others that can't fight diseases at risk of losing their lives.

@stucknoue
seriously? this whole thread is made up of people telling her that she would be fucking irresponsible to take her kid and your telling her to just keep him in a buggy? let me guess, you'd be happy to let your kid spread a potentially fatal illness to anyone else as long as it didn't affect your fun times.
fuckwittery at it's finest

I'm glad you decided not to go OP and I hope your child feels better soon.
I just posted because I noticed that a previous poster had advised you to get some nurofen (ibuprofen). Please don't give this unless you have been specifically recommended to do so by your doctor. Ibuprofen has been shown to increase the risk of serious skin infections that can potentially even lead to septicaemia if given to patients with chicken pox. It is rare, so don't panic if you have already given some, but it would be best to stick to paracetamol from now on if you need to give anything for pain or a high fever. Obviously if you are concerned then don't hesitate to seek professional advice,

Just to say I feel your pain. My two year old came downstairs with the pox on day one of February half term. It’s grim.

I'm currently on Day 6 of being stuck indoors with a chicken poxed two year old and a clear six month old. The spots looked scabbed but I'm too scared to go out side or to any groups because I don't know how other parents will react to us.

Very irresponsible. Yabu

I'm sorry but even if the other children /adult do not have chicken pox they could be carrying the virus.
The money is a pain for you and the disappointment for all upsetting but I'm sure that as a responsible parent you do not want to put people's lives at risk. I know that sounds dramatic but unfortunately as previous posters have pointed out it's true.

'We paid £140 for the chicken pox vaccine because of selfish people like you'

Oh give over. If it is infectious before the spots show, most parents are unaware that their child has it to spread around.

Blimey. Just read other people's messages.
Christ, the woman asked a question, she's not arguing it, or telling people she doesn't give a flying fuck if everybody dies. She's just saying it's a shame that they can't go.
Which it is. Also much as we all love our kids being stuck with a poorly small child for a week who is now very upset at missing out on the "big trip" won't be much fun for either of them.
Give her a break.
Op. Sorry it's shit. Make Halloween type crafts with little one (you can order stuff on line from Baker Ross) they will love it, watch Halloween type films Transylvania with him, make hot chocolate with marshmallows and cream, toffee apples yey.
There I have taken care of your week, littlun will be exhausted but pleased with your attention all to themselves.

So all the immunocompromised people on this thread (who are still laying into the OP) are only going to be seriously ill if they encounter a spotty child? What about before the spots come out? What about all the people with colds or flu who have to go about their daily business? What about all the other childhood ailments with an incubation period of days or a week before any symptoms are present?

Literally every person you encounter could be incubating something. I think telling the OP she will be responsible for the death of your child/father/cousin etc is bordering on hysterical. Put your anger to good use and start lobbying for a comprehensive chickenpox vaccination programme.

It’s great that the OP has reconsidered and isn’t going. I’m really pleased about that. I also hope her child feels better soon.

I think all the immunocompromised people are still upset because just reading the thread title is terrifying. So it presses lots of buttons. Later today I have to take my child on chemo to an airport, get on a plane and then get on a train. I’m anxious about this anyway because you’re quite right, there are lots of other illnesses which she could be exposed to, including CP before the spots come out. Realising that some people aren’t really convinced that children with chickenpox shouldn’t be in isolation is really scary and upsetting.

If she gets chickenpox now
She will be seriously ill with the potential for life threatening illness
She will need hospital admission and will need to be isolated in a single hospital room for the duration of her illness.
Her chemotherapy and radiotherapy will be delayed.

So, thank you OP for realising that yes, a child with chickenpox really should be isolated.

It's not just 5 days from the start of chicken pox like a few seem to think but approx 5 days from when the last spot appears. Spots can still be coming out after a week so 12 days in our case. Luckily we live not too far a drive from some very rural areas so could go to places for walks where you'd be confident you'd never see another soul. Dc went for bike rides, picnics and to the beach when they had pox with no risk to others because there was no one around. We also visited a friend who had a large enclosed garden and stayed over there so passed the time without being cooped up

Please dont give ibuprofen products as they can cause adverse skin reactions in cases of chicken pox. Paracetamol, oats/bicarb in the bath, poxclin, virasoothe and piriton are supposed to help

@fourforksake, LOL. Embarrassed for you

Really sorry the timing is so shit. Soda law isn’t it?

Sods 😂🙈

My father is immunocompromised and the issue is about making that risk decision about exposure for them.

When people go out with with immune (including if pregnant or with newborns) issues you always weigh up the risks for example getting the tube in winter etc

However when someone goes out knowingly with an infectious illness it totally skews that risk assesment. Eg with his current treatment my dad probably wouldnt risk going to see a family that had chicken pox recently, and might avoid tubes etc. He would probably consider that going to the natural history museum or a restaurant as less risky and do that, however if the child next to him in those situations is infectious then that suddenly becomes a totally different situation

Its a bit like when you choose to introduce things like food allergens to kids, some people might be happy to introduce them earlier, others might wait. If you wanted to give a strangers kid peanut butter you'd ask, you wouldnt then deliberately give that allergen without telling the parents because its not your risk decision to make. When you deliberately go out with anything contagious then you remove that choice for other people.

OP have you got annual travel insurance as it may cover this trip being cancelled for CP