Chicken Pox

[JoolsTwo]

We think my grandson has Chicken Pox. They are due to fly to Turkey on Easter Monday, does any one know if they will be allowed to fly? They will be staying with family out there not an hotel or complex.

[MargoTester]

I would take him to see a doctor to confirm and ask his advice.

[mazie]

Hi Jools.. poor little lad... Link below might help xx

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Chickenpox/Pages/Prevention.aspx

[JoolsTwo]

Thanks Mazie - looks like he should be ok to go then according to that link. It will be 7 days by the time they go. I remember my 2 getting it but couldn't remember how long they were infectious. He was here at the weekend and was fine, I feel so sorry for him.

[mazie]

Hope all goes well for the family Jools xx

[DTCwordfan]

I don't think they should fly - he will be in incubation from 7 to 21 days - definitely not if blisters are still appearing and open. You can spread it....esp on the plane when in close confines.

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/childhood-illnesses/chickenpox-virus

[Sqad]

DT...incubation period and infectivity are not the same.

I agree with the post of mazie.

[DTCwordfan]

So, sqad, how long are they infectious for.......worse case.

The second thing is will he have the energy for it - if an older child, could they be risking shingles?

[Sqad]

DT...they are infectious until the last lesion has scabbed over.

No, you can't catch shingles.

[DTCwordfan]

You can develop shingles though.........want to hear about a case under my watch in Shanghai?

[DTCwordfan]

so therefore, you have just given the time frame when he can fly, 'when the last lesion has scabbed over.'

[Sqad]

DT....I didn't say that you can't "develop" shingles, I said that you can't "catch" shingles.

.\\\\\want to hear about a case under my watch in Shanghai?\\\

Yepp! can't wait.

[DTCwordfan]

Sqad, the lesson in this is that you can catch chickenpox twice - you'll know that....and, for adults, it can be quite serious.

The global business improvement team of which I had been a member twice in my time, well one of the team leaders came back from Central America to London. His six year old was invited to a chickenpox party - 'well if one has it, let's get it all over.'

He flies on after the weekend - doesn't feel well in Beijing.....ends up in Shanghai feeling like sh-yte and the doc called in, 'you have chickenpox.'

His hotel, a major luxury brand were fantastic, agreeing to keep him there, rather than a Chinese hospital, identifying staff who had had the disease and who could 'serve' the room. He was there for three weeks and, afterwards, he said that he didn't really know where he was for the first ten days.... Anyway, my intervention came with the Air Ambulance to get him back to London.

At that time, it was one plane to Hong Kong and then a second one to London. However, HK refused to take him......it was only resolved by my Chairman and myself going to see Chris Patten, then Governor. He just rolled his eyes and that was it, bingo, an order to his aide..... Poor guy ended up with a mild case of shingles, not surprising.....

Hence my reservation in having this kid travel with the pox.....though we don't know his age, to be fair.

[DTCwordfan]

Oh, and this guy had had chickenpox when young, very mildly, it turned out to be.....

[Sqad]

\\He flies on after the weekend - doesn't feel well in Beijing.....ends up in Shanghai feeling like sh-yte and the doc called in, 'you have chickenpox.' \\

He almost certainly caught it off his son, even though, allegedly he had had it before.

\\\\His hotel, a major luxury brand were fantastic, agreeing to keep him there, rather than a Chinese hospital, identifying staff who had had the disease and who could 'serve' the room. \\\

Sensible as he was still contagious (could infect other people.)

\\\\ He was there for three weeks and, afterwards, he said that he didn't really know where he was for the first ten days...\\\\

It can indeed be debilitating in the older patient......but not infectious after the last "bleb" has scabbed.

\\\\\Hence my reservation in having this kid travel with the pox.....though we don't know his age, to be fair.\\\

True, but the question was about infectivity and or fitness to fly.

[JoolsTwo]

They have seen the doctor and she says it shouldn't be a problem. They will obviously monitor the situation. They wouldn't take him if he is unwell but their doctor thinks he should be ok to travel.

[Peter Pedant]

well goggle

airlines chicken pox

and you get the answer:
http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk/advice/general-travel-health-advice/air-travel.aspx

( no ) but it would seem sensible to ring and check ....

[Peter Pedant]

blimey why are you second-guessing your doctor ?

any second opinion ( esp if the first one is right-o let him travel ! )
is gonna be : oops no sorry ....

see my answer above.