Chickenpox and holiday

[Traveljo]

HELP! Anyone with chickenpox and holiday experiences? DS is on day 4 of the dreaded pox and we are due to fly out on Sunday. DD hasn’t had it before and seems to have dodged every case in school (praying that she has had it without symptoms)
Do we get a fit to fly (if we can) and chance daughter getting it out there or try to cancel?
hubby thinks if DS is ok to fly then we should go as DD may not even get it.
Any advice or experiences are grateful appreciated 😊

When did DS spots stop appearing?

Ooh tricky one, personally I wouldn’t go as my youngest was really unwell with pox and had to go on ABs due to an infection caused by the pox. Also, I’d hate to be stuck somewhere as you can defo not fly with active pox!

In my experience siblings very very rarely escape, and I’m sure with the pox she would be unable to go in the sun or the pool and so would have to spend the entire time sitting under an umbrella which whatever her age I’m sure would be hellish. Incubation can be quite long too so just because she’s fine still doesn’t mean she has escaped. I’m not sure re your son, I think he would be able to fly if all spots have scabbed but it’s a huge risk re your daughter. It is also highly contagious before the spots appear (that’s why it spreads like wildfire) and is very dangerous to those immune compromised so your daughter may not have spots on the flight/airport but could be spreading it in that confined space to someone who becomes seriously unwell.

saturday morning noticed them and due to fly Sunday afternoon

"In my experience siblings very very rarely escape"

In my experience I didn't catch it from my sibling and neither of our kids caught it from siblings or cousins. If she's got no symptoms then I'd be going

Well clearly neither of you care about spreading it to other people in the plane, who may be pregnant, so crack on.

i would say they stopped yesterday but hard to say

Have you looked to see if you can get her vaccinated? It can prevent it altogether even post exposure and at the very least will lessen symptoms. Assuming DS is scabbed over and can fly it’s 100% worth trying to find her an appointment in the hope of saving the holiday. Boots, superdrug, pharmacies and private GPs do it. If it were me I’d be ringing round tomorrow to see if I could get an appointment.

If his spots are crusted over I'd go. I never knowingly caught it at school or for siblings. They tested me when I got pregnant and had antibodies despite never having so much as a spot. Your daughter could be the same.

@Geebray he will not be contagious on day 9! Do you expect them all to quarantine with zero symptoms on the off chance? Obviously you do, how long should they keep the kids at home for?

My kids had chicken pox last year. It was about a 2 week gap between one coming down with it the and then the other showing signs. It’s difficult to know what to advise, as your other kid might not get it, however, if they do abroad it’ll be potentially very difficult.

Once the spots have scabbed they are no longer contagious. That normally takes 5-7 days. The incubation period can be up to 21 days so it could be a while before you know if your dd has caught it. If your dd doesn't show signs by the time you leave then I would go on holiday.

I doubt insurance would pay out unless your dd had active chickenpox as your ds should be OK to fly by Sunday.

Sadly the vaccine will take several weeks before it’s effective at preventing infection.

That’s not correct, it can stop it even post exposure

Not about wanting to be irresponsible at all, it is about asking for experiences and what others would do or have done within the rules of what is allowed. We have spent a lot of money and we have to fully consider our options.
if son is fit to fly the insurance won’t cover it just in case my daughter is unwell. so I suppose it’s a waiting game to see what happens at the end of the week.

If you’re interested, from the CDC:
Post-exposure Varicella VaccinationThe Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that after being exposed to varicella or herpes zoster, people who do not have evidence of immunity and are eligible for vaccination should get varicella vaccine.

• Ideally, the vaccine should be given within 3 to 5 days after the person is exposed. This may prevent varicella or make it less severe.
• Even if it has been more than 5 days, the vaccine should still be offered. This will provide protection against varicella if a person is exposed again in the future and the previous exposure did not result in infection.

This is what the superdrug website says about vaccination after exposure:

If you believe your child has been exposed to chickenpox and is not showing any symptoms, they may still have the vaccine. Vaccination within 3 days of exposure may help prevent chickenpox or reduce the severity of disease, resulting in fewer skin lesions and a shorter period of illness. However, there is limited information that being vaccinated up to 5 days after exposure may reduce disease severity.

I think we may be too late to do this now before Sunday 😞

Been there OP- my eldest got a fit to fly (private cost me £40) as all scabbed. Youngest was certain to get it out there as was within 10day period of her sister. Insurance company wouldn’t pay out because neither child was sick.
so we went and smuggled a spotty child back on the plane who exploded in spots after we landed home. Was I happy about the choice- nope, but would you lose a 4k holiday over a possibility of getting pox.

Great for all the other travellers flying with your sick kid...

@InTheRainOnATrain - thanks for that info. It obviously works a bit differently to most vaccines.

I agree but you would lose a 4k holiday incase your youngest catches it?

No worries! Not even going to pretend I understand the how and why 🤣 but hopefully it’s useful info to anyone hoping to save a holiday.

Sadly probably a bit late for you OP though so I don’t know what else you can do except go and hope for the best. Travel insurance won’t pay out if neither kid actively has it on departure day.

I had never brought a contagious child on a plane.
That is completely crazy to do.
Our insurance had covered a later departure.

Oh well like I said it was a hellish situation to be in- and my insurance wouldn’t have kept me in the same hotel, me and 2yr old stranded in a shit hotel for a week, screw over my job etc. nope