Chicken pox - can we fly?

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DD (14 months) had a temperature on Friday night, a runny nose/sneezing yesterday and has woken this morning with a fair few spots on her face and scalp and a few elsewhere. She was scratching her head yesterday so I think that's when the spots started. Presumably this is chicken pox?

If so, can anyone give me an idea of the likely duration? I ask because we have flights booked for next Saturday morning. Are we going to have to cancel?

(BTW, she had her MMR jab last week - I wouldn't have thought that any reaction would look like this though)

There was another thread like this yesterday here . tbh it is touch and go, 5 days from onset of spots is the minimum exclusion period . She could still be very spotty , if scabby by then , and airline policy will vary. hth

The old view used to be that you were no longer infectious once the spots had scabbed over (around a week), and that's still a common rule for "when they can go back to school/nursery" but now more places are saying "5 days from when the spots first appear". If that's right then you'd (just) be OK for next Saturday. NHS direct says "You are infectious from about two days before the rash appears until roughly five days after".

It's tricky, because next Saturday you'll be right on the cusp of whether or not she'll be infectious. Probably she won't, as it'll be six days after the spots appeared, but you'll be packed onto a plane with children, etc., so if she is still infectious you could infect loads of people.

You should be ok - but I'd bet you'll need a doctor's note to get on a plane.

... and of course I would need to get the doctors' note on Friday. Seems very touch and go.

This being our first, can I also ask:

• will she feel sick? She seems fine in herself - waking early but fairly energetic and chirpy. Not as many cold symptoms as yesterday. Scratching her head, so I suppose the itchiness will get worse.

• what should I give her. Is it Piriton syrup that she can have?

• do I need to keep her indoors completely? Can she go out for a walk, be in the garden, etc (I understand about avoiding confined spaces with children). Does the warm weather make a difference?

Sorry for all the questions!

No, I would go see the doctor tomorrow, confirm that your child a) has chicken pox and b) has had it from this date. I'm not a GP, I've never done this, but I think seeing the doctor sooner rather than later is wise.

Maybe even go armed with latest guidelines downloaded from somewhere official and printed out?

Children vary a lot with chicken pox, but I found my DS1, who had it at about 1.5, was a bit poorly for a day or two, just a tiny bit under the weather, and then fine. No itching at all. Piriton should be fine if she's itching, as should calomine, baths with oats or bicarb.

You can take her out and about, just warn other children if they get close. Airplanes are particularly worrisome because of all the recycled air.

ds was sleepy rather than ill, dd was fine if grumpy (hard to tell the difference sometimes !). Piriton is good, so apparently is Eurax. We found bathing them in tepid bicarb of soda baths soothing. Also dd played a lot in the paddling pool (similar time of year) and out in the garden in warm air which seeemd to dry up the spots . She can go outside but not anywhere where other people may be nearby(ie park play area) as it is airborne

You will def need a doctors note to a) confirm it is chicken pox and B) confirm your DD is not infectious at the time of travel.

Hi, agree on going to gp: ds2 had CP when we were on a trip to Holland, and although we saw a gp, and he said it would be ok to fly 5 days after spots appeared, he didn't want to write a note for it, and we were refused on the filght back to uk (at gate!). So if i were you, i'd go to gp and let them write a declaration that it is CP and when your dd would be fit to travel.
You'll also need this doctor's note for insurance in case you need to cancel or postpone your flights. In our case we got all the cost for re-booking flights refunded.
Hope your dd is not too miserable!