Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Holiday with chickenpox

248 replies

monkey117 · 06/06/2012 15:14

Hi, I'm wondering what everyone else would do in my situation as I am finding it so hard to make a decision. My family are due to go on holiday to Menorca next Monday. My 3 year old DD1 came down with chickenpox last Thursday so by Monday she will be on Day 12 since the rash started. We are currently on Day 7 and most of the spots seem to be scabbing over so I am hopeful that by next Monday she will no longer be contagious and safe to fly. I plan to go to the doctors this Friday to ask whether he can give us a 'safe to fly' letter just in case we experience any problems. However, I am assuming that it will be highly likely that DD2 (18 months old) has caught chickenpox from her sister and will currently be at the incubating stage. Therefore it is very likely that she will come out with the rash while we are on holiday, most likely during the first week of our 2 week holiday. I am finding it so difficult to make a decision as to whether we should try to cancel the holiday, however if my DD1 is no longer contagious and DD2 doesnt yet have chickenpox at the time of our flight then we may not get our holiday paid for by insurance if we cancel. But the thought of travelling abroad with my 18 month old highly likely to come out with chickenpox is also not very appealing! Any opinions would be greatly received as I am so stressed right now and dont know what to do for the best! Thank you.

OP posts:
lovechoc · 08/06/2012 19:54

But the chances are that any other GP around the UK would have advised OP just the same, sent her off with the same advice, to go on holiday MrsDV.

JollyBear · 08/06/2012 20:02

Lovechoc "who on earth goes on a plane when they are immunosuppressed anyway?" What an idiotic statement. Being immunosuppressed means that you take precautions, ie avoid sick people but live your life hoping that those around you have a flicker of common sense and stay at home if they are ill. Taking an infected child to the shops is stupid and selfish. Shame on you.

OP you sound very sensible and of course hopefully your other dc won't become ill.

5madthings · 08/06/2012 20:52

if the ops dd gets chickenpox BEFORE they go on holiday then no she wouldnt go, you cannot go on a plane with chickenpox i think the gp meant go if she has no signs of it, as you cant tell if she will get it or not? but you couldnt go if she did get chickenpox before you went away and if you get it whilst on holiday then the op has already said her dh and herself will take it in turns to stay with poorly dd whilst the others go out?

lovechoc · 08/06/2012 21:02

If I was suffering from an illness which left me immuno-suppressed the last thing I'd be doing would be going on a plane where there's a chance I may end up catching a virus. That is common sense.

You can take them on a plane if they have CP, as long as the infectious period has been and gone and the pooks have scabbed over, what harm is there??? I think we're going round in circles here...

SoupDragon · 08/06/2012 21:11

"If I was suffering from an illness which left me immuno-suppressed the last thing I'd be doing would be going on a plane where there's a chance I may end up catching a virus"

You'd have to avoid the shops too in case someone can't find another way of getting bread and milk.

JollyBear · 08/06/2012 21:13

Really Lovechoc?! You'd never go on holiday abroad if you were unfortunate enough to have been ill or on medication?

I've had an organ transplant and am innunosuppressed. I go on holiday, go shopping, work etc. There is a chance of cacatching viruses in all of those places but I just hope that most people are not like you and don't drag sick children all over the shop.

lovechoc · 08/06/2012 21:13

Exactly Soupdragon life would be very different indeed in this situation. You'd lead a very limited existence (for a good reason).

lovechoc · 08/06/2012 21:14

JollyBear I think you are in a minority, not everyone is walking around in a immuno-suppressed condition. It's not the norm.Hmm

icarriedawatermelon2 · 08/06/2012 21:18

Well we should just vaccinate all children and we will be sorted!! Hey does that mean I win the argument??!

JollyBear · 08/06/2012 21:21

Fucking hell. Lovechoc. Are you being deliberately obtuse? People are immunosuppressed for lots of reasons not just transplants, cancer treatment, immunodeficiency disorders, hiv etc. You seriously are saying that every immunsuppressed person should lead a 'limited existence'?

lovechoc · 08/06/2012 21:22

No need to get personal and abusive posting, JollyBear. I have no used foul language at anyone on this thread.

lovechoc · 08/06/2012 21:23

icarriedawatermelon2 you win!!! Grin

lovechoc · 08/06/2012 21:24

You cannot expect everyone in society to be careful, there are those who do not know any better walking around with ill children, who may expose an immuno-suppressed person with a virus. You cannot police that?! Round and round in circles we go..

5madthings · 08/06/2012 21:25

lvoechoc are you really sayign that these people shouldnt do those things? or are you being sarcastic, of course someone who is immune suppressed should be able to do those things but we all as a society need to be aware, which is why if ht eops dd DID get chickenpox then she couldnt fly and taking her when she may get it is a judgement call, i WOULD take a child that may be incubating chickenpox out, but woudl tell people i thought at risk etc.

some think that is taking too much of a risk, its hard to know where to draw the line hence why i asked on the last page or p4, but never really got an answer.

as i said a child with chickenpox i would NOT take out at all, but one that may be incubating it, which is quite a lot with ds4 who keeps being exposed but not getting it! well i do take him out, i have 4 other children and we have to get on with life, or should i keep him in for 2wks every time he is exposed? what is a reasonable?

icarriedawatermelon2 · 08/06/2012 21:26

Jolly Bear I wouldn't have thought people who were immunosuppressed would be advised to travel far due to their risk of catching everything, not to mention Typhoid, Yellow Fever etc.

5madthings · 08/06/2012 21:26

and iwth regards to being immunosuppressed i think its far more common than you realise, i have cronic eczema and have tried numerous treatment my next option is to take immunosuppressants to try and control my skin which is essentially over reacting to things, but obviously i will be at risk if i take them, its a big decision to take and one i am putting off at the moment tbh, but will need to decide in the next few months.

lovechoc · 08/06/2012 21:26

No, I'm saying that it's as judgement call for someone who is immuno-suppressed whether they will risk leaving their house, just like anyone does. We all take risks every day. You cannot police who has a virus and who doesn't when you walk down the street.

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 08/06/2012 21:29

Lovechoc you really are being incredibly stupid.

A person who is immuno suppressed is not a danger to anyone. WHY then should their lives be severly compromised by people who deliberately go out with infectious diseases?

There are thousands and thousands of people who are immuno suppressed/vulnarable.
People on treatment for cancer are a major group.
Children with chromosomal disorders.
Those with cystic fibrosis
Elderly people
Those with HIV and AIDs
Those with cerebral palsy
Many others with disabilities and chronic illnesses.

Do you sit and have a little sob when you watch programes about children with cancer? Do you think 'bless the little kiddies aint it sad?'
But you are happy to potentially put them in hospital with a life threatening condition. You are happy that the few 'good' days they have when they are not having treatment can be ruined by some selfish idiot who cannot stay inside for a few days?

JollyBear · 08/06/2012 21:29

Abusive?!! Using a swear word is not abuse.

People who don't know is one thing but you were boasting about taking an infectious CP child to the shop!

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 08/06/2012 21:31

Lovechoc.
Try and understand.
YOU are taking the risk of catching a cold and feeling a wee bit poorly for a while.
Someone who is immunocomprimised is taking the risk of spending months in hospital and dying.

Can you see the difference?

JollyBear · 08/06/2012 21:34

Icarriedawatermellon Yellow fever?! I was talking about going on a plane to continental europe. Not much yellow fever in Paris...

lovechoc · 08/06/2012 21:35

I'm afraid I was not boasting, I was stating what I had to do in a difficult situation at the time. I must be one of dozens who have done the same (except I'm the only one of MN willing to talk about it).

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 08/06/2012 21:37

Aww I apologise.
Having a child with CP and needing bread is SO much harder than having a child on chemotherapy.

How ever did you get through it? Sad

5madthings · 08/06/2012 21:37

but you dont have to, yes it is a pita, but with the internet you CAN order anything you need nowadays so when mine had chickenpox i just placed a big order and stocked up as i knew i couldnt go out for a fornight.

icarriedawatermelon2 · 08/06/2012 21:37

I do twitch when I see kids covered in Molluscum Contagiosum in the Swimming Pool. But can you really stop a child from swimming for 2 years?!