Poorly toddler holiday

[Dntknw]

I’m in a bit of a predicament. On holiday in the canaries and I’m fairly sure my toddler has hand, foot and mouth. We’ve spent the last couple of days holed up in our hotel room. She seems to have broken her fever today and come out in the tell tale mouth and hand rashes. We’re meant to be flying home in a couple of days. We really want and need to get home as planned to relieve our relatives who are house/pet sitting. And I’m due back at work later this week. But I don’t want to have my little one endure travel while she feels rotten and potentially infectious to others. I think our travel insurance might allow for one of us to stay longer until she recovers but we just desperately are having a miserable time and want to get home. I feel like she would be much happier if we could just get her home. Has anyone any advice for what they would do in this situation? Currently I’m just hoping she feels much better in time to fly

Take her to the Doctors and they will decide either fit to fly and give her a certificate to say so or not fir to fly in which case you can claim on your travel insurance. They will usually only pay for one adult and the poorly child to stay.

Thanks Littletreefrog. I’ve taken your advice and asked the hotel to send a doctor to see her.

Now that the fever has broken and the rash has come out you might find she is back to herself by the time you fly home. Im
not sure how long the contagious period is though or what airline rules are. I know schools and nurseries don’t exclude for it, at least ours didn’t. But yeah see doctor is best advice.

Oh no that’s so awful for you all ! I myself caught it off my toddler one time and it was honestly the worst thing ever !!! It’s rare for adults to catch but possible . If the rash is obvious airline may deny travel but honestly I’d be wanting to get you all home in case any of you come down with it xx

Maybe unpopular opinion but if I were you I’d fully clothe her & go home as normal.

I agree with hangxiety that I would just take her home as planned, as long as you felt she could cope with that. Our nursery doesn’t exclude for it either and I’m sure there will be plenty of germs on the plane anyway.

Just get on the plane as normal, dose her up. You will feel so much happier once home and just endure the 4 hour flight

And how about if there are elderly people on the flight? It can be serous for them! It’s the most selfish thing to do!

Hand foot and mouth can be transmitted for a long time after recovery, but is mostly an issue during the first week. Her fever breaking is a good start towards the less infectious period. Hopefully the blister part will be over quickly and you can just fly as normal. I am another who caught if off my baby. It was so sore, I wouldn't want to travel.like that nor would I want to spread it and inflict on anyone else. I dont think id delay my flight purely on that basis though, as she can still be infectious for ages and you need to get home at some point! I would for some other illnesses for sure. Definitely don't be letting her trot up and down the aisle, even if she feels better. And maybe wipe down your plane area when you leave (and anything she touches) with high alcohol content/bleach wipes.

It’s not a virus that they even have to stay off school for, so I’d fly home as normal. You can try your best to keep her in her seat, wipe down her tray/the loo if you use it etc. But don’t feel bad OP. People will be harbouring much worse on the plane. There’ll be all manner of viruses, vomiting bugs, Covid/flu and more circulating on that plane. It’s part and parcel of flying/travelling with the general public. If she feels well enough to go die. To the pool etc for the end of your holiday, I’d take her fine there too.

As there is no guidance to stay home or isolate with this virus, I’d fly home as normal. Also my baby had it and was only unwell for one day (when he had a fever), he was back to normal the next day when the fever was down so your daughter might feel fine.

Just back from getting her checked out! the hotel doctor said it was probably viral but sent us to the hospital to be sure. The hospital doctor was much more experienced and confirmed it is viral, but has prescribed holistic treatments and antibiotics if she gets worse. I asked if it was hand, foot and mouth and the doctor said could be but it doesn’t matter which virus it is. Poor little thing is exhausted after the hospital trip though, screamed to go to bed the whole time. We’re 300 euro down (I should be able to reclaim) but we’ll sleep better tonight knowing she’s not got anything more serious. Praying now for a decent recovery before Wednesday. The 3 of us are so fed up and so desperate to go home. Already agreed we don’t want to go abroad again for a long time. Decided we’d benefit a lot more from spending the money on a weekly cleaner than saving for another trip. Hard when you’ve saved all year to have a break. At least we’ll all be so grateful and happy to get home!

My daughter came down with it the day after we landed on our last holiday 🤦🏻‍♀️ Fortunately she seemed entirely herself just quite spotty! As the NHS guidance says there’s little you can do to keep it from spreading we just got on with things but made sure we cleaned her hands lots and didn’t let her share cutlery or towels with anyone. No one else in the family caught it.

I’d fly home as planned if she feels well enough :)

All honesty I think flying will be fine. They're allowed in nursery/school as long as no temp (which will hopefully fade by the time you have to fly)

Do you have a decent buggy with you? (If not you’ll be able to hire a good one) pop her in that with lots of shade and muslin blanket and keep being out n about, walking, drinks outside etc. The fresh air will help her, she’ll sleep in buggy if it’s good it’ll go flat, and you’ll all feel more relaxed and be able to enjoy the warmth. Beach is slso good - but a 10 euro beach parasol and a big cotton beach blanket . She can rest on blanket in shade and hopefully play a bit. You can pitch up away from others. Don’t hide in hotel just find ways to make her comfortable out n about.

I would get some Calpol from the local pharmacy and travel home as planned. My daughter was ill on holiday in the Canaries a few years ago. The local pharmacy was really helpful. Spanish Calpol is stronger and doesn't taste very nice but it meant she slept well and therefore recovered quicker.

This happened to us when my boy was around 18 months, hand foot and mouth which I’m sure he picked up in the toddler play area. We had a night flight home I put him in pyjamas and dressing gown dummy in his mouth and brought him home on our flight as planned and luckily we weren’t stopped.