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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:
OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 09/06/2012 16:11

I am glad things have been as smooth as possible - and yes it IS still monumentally shit.
Lots of love to your little lad and may his treatment remain boring and utterly uneventful.
And please give him a tiny sneaky hug from me.
And have one for yourself while you are at it :)

lovechoc · 09/06/2012 16:17

I wouldn't take DC out unless it was necessary (and it was at that particular time in my case as I had no neighbours to help out or no money to pay for online shopping - don't have cards only cash). If online shopping was an option, YES I would I done that. Obviously! Have already said I had no family near by to help out at the time DS could possibly have been contagious (possibly - I have no way of knowing for sure). My goodness, you only pick out what suits you in order to better an argument, mrsDV.

Sirzy · 09/06/2012 16:29

To take a child you know has chicken pox out (unless in an emergency where it is really unavoidable) is selfish, nothing will convince me otherwise. Before the child shows signs of being ill it can't be avoided but when they do it can.

Compared to some on here we are exceptionally lucky but DS has still had to have a lot of steroids for his asthma which means Chicken Pox could potentially cause him big problems. Even for children without any underlying health problems it can in rare cases be very serious.

Why would anyone risk the health of another child for their own convenience of not wanting to be 'cooped up'?

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 09/06/2012 16:32

You took your children out for 'fresh air'
And you DO have a partner who could easily have bought home supplies after work.

You chose to put others at risk because you couldnt be bothered to do otherwise.

Please try and remember that the things you post do not disappear just because you begin to realise your opinions are not quite as popular as you imagined them to be.

McKayz · 09/06/2012 16:50

There was no need for you to leave the house. Your DH easily could have got you shopping.

HauntedLittleLunatic · 09/06/2012 17:00

A child should be kept out of public areas with chicken pox for a total of 5 days.

That is all. For the vast majority of the population that is not particularly hard even tho it might make life slightly more difficult.

I don't believe that you should be in quarantine 'just in case'. Partly because you cannot be sure they are infected and you can't be sure (assuming that they are) which 2 days they will be infectious without spots. I would however try to avoid places where there is a high risk to others (I.e. you know there are going to be at risk groups present). I wouldn't live my life by it tho - and that would include the flight being discussed here.

And Incidently - children with chicken pox still 'look infectious' past day 5 but they aren't. It is a myth that you have to wait until scanned over.

Can I ask a question - if someone has had chickenpox/been vaccinated and subsequently becomes immunoconpromised do they loose the immunity they had?

HauntedLittleLunatic · 09/06/2012 17:01

That should have been *scabbed over

NotaDisneyMum · 09/06/2012 17:09

OP I haven't waded through all of the posts, but just to say I think you need to talk to your insurance company.

If you do travel, and you DC is ill while you are there, they may refuse to pay out because they will say that it is a risk you knew about and should have told them (check the small print, there is usually a clause about notifying them if any of the insured have been exposed to infection).

windywendy · 09/06/2012 17:09

hauntedLittleLunatic yes they do. My DS had chickenpox last year and was diagnosed with leukaemia in January this year. He has chickenpox now as his original immunity has been wiped out by the chemo (plus all of his immunity from MMR etc). I've been told that he may well develop chickenpox AGAIN as he won't have got any immunity from this bout. It's possible that a little bit may have lurked behind which would explain the 'mild' dose he got this week.

MrsDeVere am hugging him tight at all times! He's super strong and resilient - it's just me who is the mess!

lovechoc · 09/06/2012 17:36

Yes I did take my children out for fresh air, in a park where there were no other children. Is that a crime now? I can see the park, it's near where I live so I knew there would be no other children there. What is your problem, MrsDV?

DH could have got supplies in on return from his work but he works 7am til 7pm or 7pm til 7am so it is a long time to go without any milk (which was the case that day). If he worked 9 til 5 however, he could have gone out and got supplies in for me so that I'd be able to stay at home with DC, but as it happens he leaves for work at 6.15am/pm (dependent on shift).

Sirzy · 09/06/2012 17:39

So a few hours without milk is more important than the health of other children?

You didn't know nobody else would come into the park while you were there either.

windywendy · 09/06/2012 17:39

lovechoc you said yourself:

Unfortunately it is impossible to stay indoors (DH works 12hr shifts and so I cannot expect him to bring home food, he gets in late and also does nightshifts) I have to do most of the childcare on my own for several days at a time and have no family help close by to help out in such a situation so I have had to take mine out to the shops to buy bread and milk, nappies, etc whilst they've both been ill with chickenpox (probably contagious too). There are some situation you cannot avoid.

That's what people are shocked by - the fact that you took contagious children to the shops, NOT that you took them for fresh air.

lovechoc · 09/06/2012 17:40

Clearly many on this thread do not understand shift work Hmm He doesn't do a tiny 8hr day like others, he's away with the car at least 13 hours each day! Impossible to get someone in to watch DC (whether D/S or N/S) so I had to get out and buy food and suspension paracetamol at the chemist.

lovechoc · 09/06/2012 17:41

No, I think there are some up in arms because I took them to a park (where there were no other children around, or in the surround area).

Sirzy · 09/06/2012 17:41

Clearly you fail to understand the dangers of chicken pox

lovechoc · 09/06/2012 17:43

Yes, windywendy I did say that earlier on in the thread. I could not expect family to travel a 40 mile round trip in order to help me out, and as it happens they had other commitments at the time (and inlaws were on a cruise) and neighbours all out their homes throughout the day so I couldn't call out on them for help. How much more do I need to say, because had DH been around throughout the day I would have got him to watch DC so I could get out and do the shopping myself (without any children in tow) or vice versa obviously Hmm

lovechoc · 09/06/2012 17:44

I'm all clued up on it, thanks. Had two earlier this year who had it Sirzy.

McKayz · 09/06/2012 17:45

Life doesn't depend on milk. You can easily go a day with no milk. For some people your decision could have cost them their life. And you don't seem to care.

lovechoc · 09/06/2012 17:45

Sirzy I would have left the park if I saw someone approaching. I think most people would do the same in that situation.

lovechoc · 09/06/2012 17:46

I think there are many out there who have done the same, actually. The only difference is I'm expressing it on a thread on a discussion forum.

windywendy · 09/06/2012 17:47

Why would you leave the park? You don't seem to care about taking them into a confined space so why so concerned in the park?

Sirzy · 09/06/2012 17:48

Well your certainly showing a great lack of understanding of how serious it can be to those with other health problems

lovechoc · 09/06/2012 17:48

Getting supplies in was a necessity and being at the park wasn't, so if I did happen to see children approaching I was happy to leave the park.

lovechoc · 09/06/2012 17:50

I think we're going round in circles here, and getting back to OP's response from her GP, it seems the medical profession have no problems with the OP going on holiday. Which this thread is about, rather than getting personal.

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 09/06/2012 17:52

I have worked shifts as has my husband.
My problem? Selfish people who put vulnerable people at risk because they don't have the wit to organise themselves.
Up in arms?
Damn fucking straight I am.
You had no clue that the parl
K would be empty and you partner could have bought the precious milk and bread home.
You keep making ridiculous excuses for your behaviour.
Your life didn't depend on it, you wanted to do it so you did and you didn't give a toss about the consequences.
Entitled and immature behaviour.

My oh kept on working shifts throughout my DD's illness. We had no family help and two other children to care for and he has MS.
Not once did the kids starve for want of a slice of bread.
You couldn't manage a few days?