Chicken pox scuppering travel plans

[catski]

Bugger.

My 12 month old was exposed yesterday to a little girl who has come out chicken pox today. Problem is that we're supposed to be flying back to england in 16 days time. I read somewhere that the incubation period for chicken pox is 10 days, but this little girl didn't get it until 2 weeks after she was exposed. If my son is the same this means he'll get it right before we're due to fly meaning he'll still be contagious and we'll have to cancel our trip (there's no way I would consider taking him on a flight with an infectious disease if he's still contagious because of the risk to pregnant women and other vulnerable types). Do you think I should:

a) Just cross my fingers and hope he doesn't get it, or

b) Take him over to the little girls house and rub him in her face in the hope he gets it sooner and is over the contagious period by the time we fly

????????

Im in exatcly the same position, we are travelling to spain in 2 weeks and myself (pregnant) and the 3dd's have been exposed to chicken pox as my best friends son has it. Im refusing to let them see him or visit and im not going over myself until it has all gone!

Yes cross your fingers. My dd has it at the minute and it is everywhere!
The incubation period is between 10 and 20 days at the outsides so even if exposed you may still be ok.

you're right about not going on the flight - they won't let you on

I think the risk of catching from one exposure is actually smaller than you may think
annoying for you but I would just wait it out

have you insurance in case flight is cancelled?

apparently chickenpox like the period between march and may! Everybody seems to have it around me-and not just because my dd has infected them!!!!!

If you cancel your trip he is sure not to have caught it!

Speak to the airline and see what they say.

Hi Catski,My DD1 and DD2 have just got over CP.We mixed with Our Postnatal group for DD1,and as yet no-one has become infected.My DD1 came out with on 11th April,and DD2 16 days after that.(27th April)The incubation period is 10-21 days,so the last possible time for someone to have shown spots was 14th may,so maybe 10-12 children playing in close contact with them havent picked it up(2 chances to)The little girl,in your case, was infectious 2-4 days before spots came out,and up until the last spot crusts over,so if it was from yesterday,your 12mth old could come out with it 6 days before you fly up to 5 days after you've returned.If your 12mth old doesnt show any signs(usually a temp,and being under the weather a day before spots show)I'd say,they'll have limited contact with anyone else,and anyone who's had it isnt at risk,pregnant or not.You'd be aware and keep your distance,which you can with a baby,and if someone is at risk,they would be just as likely to pick this virus up from someone in the street,at this time of year.I would say its unlikely he'll get it anyway,unless he's had prolonged contact.Tough decision.

The little girl was in our house on a playdate which lasted a couple of hours - not sure if that counts as prolonged contact or not.

Thanks for all the advice - general consensus seems to be to sit tight and keep our fingers crossed, so I guess that's what we'll do!

I don't consider that prolonged contact.If a sibling has it it would be almost impossible not to catch it as its "droplet" type infection,so towels,cups,toys,hands etc.I would imagine that a 12mth old doesn't really play with another child,in the same way as a load of 3-4 yrs olds play together,so if you watched them on a video you'd probably see that contact is minimal,I'd wait it out as you say,and hopefully, like in our case with quite alot of children being exposed for 3 hours,over a 3 week period,and no-ones caught it,the odds are in your favour.Fingers crossed.

Thanks Nursejo - that's very helpful information. Hopefully he won't have got it after all.

You are welcome catski.