Baby has tonsillitis- Greek holiday early tomorrow morning - what do we do?

[AudreyM]

We have a holiday booked to Greece for tomorrow. We have another daughter who is 5. Our youngest is 17 months and started with a fever last night. Took her to an out of hours Dr today and she has tonsillitis.

She had this before and it lasted weeks, we needed additional antibiotics and it just floored her. Our other daughter who is 5 had to be heavily prepared for the holiday. She is really bright with high functioning autism and transitions or changes are hard for her.

Travel insurance company said they will refund should we get a drs note but this has to be from our GP. Out of hours won't provide this service. It's a bank holiday so we would only be able to get it tomorrow after already missing the flights which are early in the morning. The out of hours said it should be no problem getting the note but he would just go, take lots of calpol etc.

On top of all this the 10 days antibiotics have to be refrigerated. He said it should be fine so long as it doesn't go above 25 degrees... so we would have to sort all this before tomorrow am. Not to mention we have missed some vital holiday prep shopping due to taking her to drs. We can absolutely rush out now and sort that.

I just don't know what to do. What would you do?

I'd go, dose her with calpol and take a cool bag for the antibiotics

I’ve been on holiday with a sick baby and it isn’t fun for baby or parents. Given the added stress of looking after another child with needs I would try and get money back and rebook.

That’s what insurance is for!

if you do travel would the insurance actually cover if she gets worse or needs checking while away?

DH is just looking into this as it's an annual insurance he pays for through his bank. My other concern was if there were complications (last time it led to an ear infection too) would it be considered preexisting? Will have to wait and see what he says.

Personally, I wouldn't risk going. You are going abroad with an already unwell child, and if she should become worse, or God forbid need hospital treatment, would the insurance company cover the cost? I suspect not, because the insurance company would say it's a 'pre-existing medication condition'. You need to find this out before travelling and ask for the advisors name, and to have anything they agree or confirm to be in writing eg. Email. If they confirm costs would definitely be covered, then you could risk it. If not, then you will need to miss your flight and get a GP note tomorrow.

I'd have one parent go on the holiday with your older child and one stay at home and look after the sick baby.

This!

Isn't there a reciprocal health agreement with EU, similar to the former EHIC? That would cover emergency treatment/consult on the same basis as a resident. That would take care of a pre existing issue.

I'd go. But I'd check where the nearest GP is to your resort/hotel.

Oh bless you - rotten timing! I'd try to postpone if I could. A baby with an ear infection on a plane (if not now, then potentially coming back if it goes the same way as last time) would be awful - for her, you, and all the other passengers. Either that or one of you takes your eldest and the other stays home and sees how the baby is doing in a few days once the antibiotics kick in.

Hmmm I think going away with a sick baby sounds horrendous, no fun for anyone really. I’d cancel and try and rebook after claiming on the insurance.

Get the sick note and claim on the insurance. Postpone till another date. Not great but travelling with sick child is asking for trouble.

I’d go, she has the antibiotics now so likely to improve quite quickly. Get a cool bag for antibiotics for the plane and sort out a fridge in your room for when you’re there.
You’re only going to Greece so they will have decent healthcare available if needed .

Such bad luck but in this situation I wouldn't go. I'd try and get through to the insurance company today and make sure a gp note will be suffice. Then get the note tomorrow. Really sorry for all of you x

This, its what we’re doing right now.

Don't go. Speaking from experience.

The reality will be that one stays with the sick baby in the accommodation while the other tries to entertain the older child.

Baby will be very unsettled and stressed in a strange environment, making recovery slower.

It's really not worth it.

"Pre-existing" is everything that ever happened until you got on the plane. No travel insurance policy will cover you for expenses incurred due to an acute illness that was present when you set off, or complications thereof.

The good news is that your GHIC will cover you for medical treatment, no questions asked. (You do have a GHIC for every member of the family, I hope. If not you can still get cover by calling NHS Overseas Healthcare Services.) If you do decide to travel, as a PP mentioned, find out now where the nearest public health centre is.

However, the GHIC won't cover non-medical expenses, like you having to find a hotel if you had to stay with the child during a hospital stay. So it's up to you to estimate the risk of that being necessary. Probably quite low, I'd have thought, but it's your child.

You'll get your money back woty a GP note, happened to us too