Travelling with Chicken Pox??

[Zebra33]

We're travelling longhaul in 3 weeks time and just found out today that DS (9 month old) little friend who he saw on Monday has Chicken Pox today. Chicken Pox has a 14-21 day incubation period, which means that my LO would have it when we travel. Sooooooooooo, my question is, how do airlines feel about a child travelling with chicken pox at the height of it? Anyone know? Experienced similar?

IIRC, the carrier will refuse to allow anyone with obvious symptoms of infectious disease onto an aeroplane. Chicken pox is a pretty easy one to spot, as it is such a distinctive rash.

Your travel insurance should cover illness preventing travel.

But perhaps he won't get it. Chicken pox swept round DS's nursery about 5 times but he didn't catch it until reception.

Never mind how the airlines feel, how do you think other passengers would feel?!

I'm really sorry if your DS gets chicken pox, but it's very irresponsible to expose other people to it.

Check your insurance to make sure you're covered if you have to cancel your flight.

Er, yes thanks BecauseImWorthIt, how many people still travel when they have colds, flus and even stomach viruses?!?!?

Thanks onimolap, will wait in bated breath, hope he doesn't get it this time round.

A quick google search came up with the following:-

British Airways have a Q&A on the topic of flying and chickenpox, reporting:

?Information from British Airways Health Services states you cannot travel until six days after the last spot has appeared, and then at that point you will also need a letter from your GP/Doctor stating that you are no longer infectious.?

NHS24 state
?If your child has chickenpox, they may not be allowed to fly during the infectious stage (two days before the rash appears until roughly five days after). This is because the air conditioning systems in aeroplane cabins allow germs to circulate easily, and the chickenpox infection can be very dangerous for people with AIDS, a lowered immune system, and pregnant women.

Your child should be safe to fly once they are past the infectious stage and the blisters have crusted over, but it is best to check your airline policy first.

You should inform the airline as soon as you have sought medical advice and had the illness diagnosed. It is also important to let your insurer know, to make sure that you will be covered if you have to delay or cancel your holiday, or if you need to extend your stay until your child is well enough to fly home.?

But chicken pox is much, much more dangerous than a cold - surely you know this?!

Thanks for that JGBMum!

BecauseImWorthIt - Blah, blah, blah, go hijack somebody elses post!

Don't you know that chicken pox can cause serious illness and even kill people who have poor immune systems?

It can also cause birth defects to unborn children if the mother has no immunity to chicken pox (ie if she has not had it).

So taking a child with chicken pox on a longhaul flight, where they may be newly pg women or ill people in close proximity is a little selfish dont you think?

What do you mean, hijack someone else's post? I'm answering your OP!

You may not like to hear what I've said, but you need to know it. I can't believe you don't already, but thankfully others have also posted the same.

If you travel when your DS is infectious, you risk passing on a disease which can be incredibly dangerous. For you to travel knowing this, is immensely selfish.

So someone gives you the facts about travelling with chickenpox, and you attack them? Immune supressed people could be at serious risk of chickenpox, people like my father who is on steroids. Do you really not care about them?

Can I hijack quickly, as been debating this with Dh tonight (my DTs currently have chicken pox). Can I infect people with CP, ie am I carrying it? I have had it earlier in life - mildly - seem OK, and have been stuck in the house for 3 days with the DCs. Now DH is home am hoping to get out and see life somewhere for a bit tomorrow, but will I be contagious? Internet googling seems a little vague on this front.

If you've had it, as long as you wash your hands before going out, you shouldn't be able to pass it on.

Meant to add a !

I am a furious handwasher since the DTs were born. And been using that sanitising gel too.

Hoping there is still a world out there!! DH away next week so going to be even more stir crazy by then.

Thanks for all the advice, even you Becauseimworthit. I'm not going to travel if DS gets it. Was just asking about the eventuality of it. Have spoken to my GP, & she says, the child with the virus is only infectious when u have the fever until all the spots are crusted over.

My God, you're so rude.

BIWI was only trying to help.

I think you should apologise.

def very rude poster who should apologise!! Their are mums on here that have lost unborn children because of chicken pox, and youngsters, so a little more consideration please.

It's devastating when it happens, but also try to remember that people also die of complications of the common cold; my DS's playmate being one of them.

Please would you not compare the seriousness of impact of different diseases in this way, as it pains me to see the death of the child I knew somehow lessened.

If I saw you attempting to travel with your infectious child I would point you out to the ground-staff at the airport and demand that you be removed from my flight. How irresponsible and selfish.

What on earth do you mean "even you"! How rude.

And given that in your OP you said "Sooooooooooo, my question is, how do airlines feel about a child travelling with chicken pox at the height of it?"

this did suggest that you were planning on travelling when your child was infectious.

And so you'd say blah blah blah to me if you sitting next to me on the plane with my pregnant bump would you? Your holiday over my baby's life??? CP is SO infectious you would undoubtedly infect other poeple on a plane.

I think you are incredibly selfish to even be considering this, not mention the potential complications your child could develop in a country where not sure what the medical facilities are. Yes, it will probably be a mild self-limiting illness, but when it's not it's extremely serious.

I also think you have been very rude to BIWI, who actually made a very good point, without being personal, and agree you should apologise.

I hope that your child does not catch CP and you are able to travel anyway, but if they do PLEASE have some consideration for other people.

I can't believe you even asked the question if I am honest. It is an infectious disease. Totally irresponsible to even think it yet alone do it.

I'd be boiling mad if I saw you with a child with chicken pox on my flight and would actually probably report you to cabin crewe.

Please accept my apologies for being rude BIWI.

And GOOD GOD is this being blown out of proportion or what?!?!?!? I really would not put my baby at risk & travel without the ok from my GP & I really do think that we would not be allowed on the plane any way, at the height of it, . Was just pondering if anybody had experience with it or been refused on a plane even when crusted over stage etc. etc. As JGB said BA have a policy, like all airlines do. And I just wondered what it was.

I think had you not massively overreacted to the initial responses, nobody else would have made a fuss - you really did set the tone.

Anyway - I'm glad you've apologised, I hope BIWI sees it.

and fgs stop backpedalling - your OP was very clearly put, and we all answered it as it read.