Flying & chicken pox

[Mim135]

HELP!

Due to fly to Spain on Thursday and this morning my 3 month old came out in chicken pox - caught from his sister who had them a few weeks ago!

Has anyone been this close to flying and received a fit to fly letter from the doctor?

I'm reading some conflicting advice - the airline says they can't fly for 7 days after the last spot appears but people are also saying to get a fit to fly letter.. Wednesday will be day 5 so all being well he won't be contagious when we fly, doctor advice dependant. Am I hanging on to hope here?! Should I accept that our holiday will need to be cancelled.. 😫🤦‍♀️

Both of mine still had blistered spots (therefore still contagious) 7-8 days after the first spot. Some clear up much sooner. You may be lucky, but unfortunately you won’t know until much closer to the time.

The spots take around 5 days to blister but they still get new spots coming up for several days. He won’t have all the spots out just now. Sorry I doubt you’ll fly. It will be more like 7-10 days before they’re all scabbed over and he’s no longer contagious.

I agree that it will be tricky to know if they’re all scabbed over until the day itself. What time do you have to leave ? Can you book an early appointment for the day itself or is that cutting it too soon??
All three of mine have had chicken pox so differently - one had a handful of spots , was well in themselves and all scabbed over in the five days..... I really hope that’s the case for you!! X

Not blister- scab!

Far too close. Contact insurance, you won't be able to fly.

If your airline say 7 days then it's a done deal, she definitely can't fly. At least that means you don't need to wait and see and can get straight onto your travel insurer. It's really shit and you have my sympathy. Guess it's not a total surprise if it's the second sibling to get it though?

Mmmm - reading other responses I agree that you’ll probably have to plan for not going .... rather than the stress of hanging it all on the last minute ?? Sometimes there’s peace in making the decision and coming to terms with it ?
Also , unfortunately - the sibling who gets it second often has the worse does 😔

Dose even !

We fly at 7am Thursday so would have to be Wednesday when we go to the doctors. I'm assuming 5 days because my daughters took 5 days - just assumed, whoops.

I think I'm hanging on to a shred of hope, but know deep down that it probably won't happen - I would never want to make anyone ill. I should just follow the airlines policy, and accept our fate 🙁😫

Unless all the spots are scabbed over then I wouldn’t fly. It could be very serious if you were to pass it on to an elderly or pregnant woman (who hasn’t had it before). Both my DS had it over summer and it took longer than 5 days. I have my fingers crossed for you but I would assume you’re not going!

PS It's not a surprise but I did get told children under 6 months carry their mothers immunity and therefore most likely wouldn't catch it... 🙄

My mum had rheumatoid arthritis and chicken pox would have been really serious for her immune system had she contracted it, so I would probably assume there are others that it could affect. I would be 100% sure before stepping on a flight with chicken pox the results could be devastating for others. Sorry to be a pooper, but just my thoughts ....you may have to miss this one 😭😭

Thanks ladies.. You've really just confirmed my thoughts - looks like we're cancelling..

I've read threads where women cover their children up and go anyway - crazy!

Also- sorry to bring even more bad news - but my ds got chicken pox at 11 months from his older sister ( a proper dose and good covering of spots) and then got it again at 3 when he was at preschool... I thought that was weird but the dr I saw said it can happen if they catch it under 1??????

Oh no musicinspring!! I never want to see chicken pox again 😫😫😫
Thanks for the heads up tho 🤦‍♀️

Will your insurance cover you to follow on a couple of days later?

I'll call them and check - I know they'll cover the cancellation but not sure about flying out a few days later. That's a good idea tho, if we are able to!

We had to move last years holiday due to the same problem. This is when we decided to buy insurance for future issues like this. Our blisters appeared day before flight so wasn't an option going. You may be luckier

Getting it under 1 year also puts them at risk of getting childhood shingles. Ds had CP at nearly 6 months old and shingles age 3

1. check if your travel insurance covers it (if you had one)
2. rather than losing the hotel you booked, move the dates as they usually allow you to do that
3. you will lose the flight unless insurance covers it

Fortunately we're covered by insurance. Will check about moving by dh is very restricted with dates so may be a case of moving it to next years summer holiday..

Goodbye 5* all inclusive.. Hello sick baby

Argh poor you and poor baby....chicken pox is disproportionately horrendous for what it is! I feel for you x

Yep. Had exactly the same happen when my LO was 3yo. 3 days before the flight. Had to cancel. Unfortunately, our insurance wouldn’t pay as we had booked an Annual with a start date of the flight so they said it was pre-existing (😬) but EasyJet who we were flying with was excellent and gave us a voucher to rebook the flights at another time, so we didn’t lose out too much. Instead we packed up the car and went to stay with family by the coast in Dorset - and ended up having a brilliant week!