I think I would rather postpone my flight and send hubby and son on ahead than to get stuck half way. And the way our luck is going at the moment we would get the only stewerdess with x ray vision and any attempt at a cover up would end up in abject humiliation for all involved.

Give me more chocolate.....NOW

Hopefully fingers and toes crossed your other child may not get them and by next tuesday you other child should not be infectious......get an appointment with the Docs ASAP.

Good luck and hope it all goes well.

Thanks Donna

Appreciate the positive thoughts....need a few more of them as our excitment factor has ebbed to an all time low.

If our little girl remains spot free and is healthy otherwise,we shall go and be prepared for the worst whilst out there. I've already been and bought some more calamine lotion just in case!!

Heather

I've never had chicken pox, so dread the thought of ever catching it on a flight or the like :scared:

I must agree with this. Until I'd experienced (my kids, not me 3 times ) I thought that Chicken Pox was a fairly innocuous disease. However my 6 year old was so poorly it was dreadful, spots in/on every concievable part of her body - she too ended up in hospital !
Your other child may or may not contract it, hopefully they will get it now so that its not infectious by the time you go - IF you have to cancel or postpone would you be covered by your insurance ?
Good luck !
Gillian

Looks like it's chicken pox season. I've never had it. It's never worried me until now. We have a 2 year old son & one of his friends that he has been in contact with recently has got it. What is the incubation period?. There is a vaccine available, but the NHS don't provide it. To get it done privately is going to cost £120. I'll have to get vaccinated as I don't want to take 2 weeks off work.

Incubation is usually about 10 days, so if you've been in contact, you may already have it by now, so perhaps there's no point of going to the expense of getting a vaccination until you're sure. It might be that you are immune to it already - either you had it so mildly as a child that you didn't even realise, or you've built up an immunity somehow. I had chicken pox when I was 19 and have never been so sick in all my life - wouldn't wish it on anyone as an adult !

Is'nt chicken pox also a danger to pregnant women who haven't had it?

I know what a disapointment and inconvenience it would be to have to redo your travel plans.....................I'm sorry but if your kids are not well then it is not only very unfair on them but it is bloody inconsiderate to other passengers.

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella zoster virus. The same virus causes both chickenpox (varicella) and shingles (zoster). Varicella zoster virus is a member of the herpes virus family.(My uncle was in hospital for 2 months and almost died from Shingles)

The most common complications of chickenpox are skin infections and pneumonia. Other complications are encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and hepatitis. Chickenpox can also lead to severe problems in pregnant women, causing stillbirths, birth defects, or infection of the newborn during childbirth.

Tell me now that you would take them on a flight if they were still contageous

I agree with all of the above and would add the comment that seems to have been missed in the thread so far - the infection is most contagious from just before the first spots arrive - and gets slightly less catching each day until all the scabs have completely dropped off and the pock marks have ceased weeping. So giving a time limit on the infectious period is somewhat misleading and can be quite a bit longer than you may have been led to believe, and may depend on the healing rate of the skin lesions.

Best advice has to be postpone the trip and take it later knowing that:

1. You will not be responsible for the possible infection of the other passengers - old, young and pregnant including the airline staff.
2. Your other family will be saved from the risk of developing the infection while on their fact finding holiday.
3. Your child who has the chicken pox now will have fully recovered and be free from any possible complications.
4. Your conscience will be clear and you too will enjoy the trip to its full potential.

Sorry that this is not what you wanted to hear.

Enjoy your , hopefully later, trip

I had a recent experience with Chickenpox. In a 12-yo. It was HORRIBLE! The stuff went onto infectious side, she was 2 weeks in bed and two weeks at home, as the blisters were even on eyes! And yes, it's deadly deangerous. So my advise would be - don't fly, if you run into complications, you may bite your elbows for the rest of life

Having worked for an airline until very recently, I can assure you that both ground agents and cabin staff are always on the look out for people - children in particular with rashes. Once spotted you will be asked to produce a fitness to fly certificate and should you not have one you will be referred to the Airport Doctor. I have encountered delays whilst the Doctor is actually called to the aircraft to check on the condition of passengers and I have also seen parents with children 'offloaded' as they are considered unfit to travel.

Airlines and their staff owe it to the 250+ passengers who will be travelling on a flight to ensure that they do not allow one passenger board that has a contagious disease. I cannot believe that people have actually suggested you travel regardless, particularly considering how contagious chicken pox actually is and how it can affect certain minorities - ie. pregnant ladies.

I have to echo this - friends who are pilots, and cabin crew members are horrified at the thought of someone knowingly boarding their aircraft with an infectious disease.

Amazula

If you are an adult and you have the chance of a vacine for £120 - for goodeness sake do not hesitate. As someone else has on this thread, adult C.P. is no joke. I had it. 20 years on and I still have the marks (albeit faded) to prove it). I would have paid £2000 for a vacine!!

Listen to Polly,


Do you really want to be responsable for up to 400 people getting sick? Maybe think about it this way, how would you feel if your kids didn't have it and you boarded a plane and the kid next to them did, making your kids sick half way through your holiday.

Kala