Question about Chicken Pox treatments in the US?

[TracyK]

My DS has been recently exposed to Chicken Pox and it is highly possible that he is incubating it. We are arriving in WDW at the weekend and I'm worried sick that he might be really ill for much of our stay. I don't know whether to bring some treatments from the UK as a precautionary measure or to get treatment in Orlando if necessary. What treatments are available either over the counter or from the doctor? Thanks for any advice.
Tracy

[KimRaye]

Yikes, TracyK, I hear ya! Home remedies vary ~ Calamine lotion and 'Don't Scratch' orders come to mind! 14yo DS NEVER has had them so, I gave him a vaccination, along with then-baby DD, to prevent this, 4 years ago. (It's now REQUIRED for kids entering school to get Chicken Pox Vaccination, here in Illinois, anyway)

I sure hope your DS has NO problems at WDW! I think the incubation period is longer than you think, though.

Not sure about the 'ill' part though ~ When I had them, at 8yo, I wasn't ill but, uncomfortable and itchy! I spent a week off of school. (Way back then, it didn't matter as much.) :rolleyes: I ALSO know how much times have changed!!

I'm hoping you have a Great Time, regardless! :)

[shortbun]

Chicken Pox is a dangerous viirus. Consult your
physician before you travel. People with chickenpox
are seriously subject to all kinds of complications and
should stay away from the general population while
contagious and while their immune system is
compromised. Overseas travel is exhausting and
could complicate your ds's health-dehydration, other
virus exposure. Gosh, do you hate me yet? The incubation
period is usually 14 days but can be longer or shorter.
Good luck. Sorry to be such a downer but IMHO, chickenpox
is not to be taken lightly besides, the heat of Florida would be
a horrible place with chickenpox!

[epcotfan]

I sure hope your son doesn't catch it. I unfortunately got it from a trip to WDW in 1999. I was 27. I got it two weeks to the day I left WDW. 10-14 days is the standard incubation period. I think I picked it up from the plane. I was out of commission for three weeks. Couldn't work and it was very painful. I have MS and it wasn't good for my immunity.

I was very lucky I got it at home and not in Orlando. Some airlines will not allow boarding if you are very sick. I remember one airline clerk that denied boarding to a child with chicken pox since there was a pregnant lady on the plane.

PD that your little guy stays well.

PS just wanted to add that chicken pox in children is not as severe as what I experienced. It is usually worse in adults.

[epcotfan]

Chicken Pox FAQ (http://www.parentsplace.com/toddlers/health/articles/0,10335,244495_109781,00.html)

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

Both my kids got the shot. I knew 2 people who had severe(life threatening)complications from chicken pox. The shot is now required to enter Kindergarten here.
What forms of treatment do you all use in England for this? There may be something to take to make it less severe, but I am not sure of this.
BTW, my kids were exposed countless times and never got them;) ! Hope your son is ok for the trip!

[pat fan]

My kids never got chicken pox so I had to get them the shot when they went to school last year.Of course,then you have to worry and wait because the shot can sometimes cause chicken pox!

Anyway,to answer your question about remedies,I know when my sisters kids had it she soaked them in an oatmeal bath(not cooking oatmeal but a special bath packet ;) ) and I think she gave them Benadryl to help with the itching.

Every case is different,some mild some awful.Some kids even die from it which is why they do the vaccine now.Keep your son away from pregnantr women too as the virus can affect the baby.

I hope he doesn't get it because any kind of sick on vacation is no fun :(

[Leota]

Please don't think that chicken pox is just an uncomfortable illness - It can, as shortbun said, have quite dangerous complications - For people with impaired immunity - chicken pox can kill - Max was in intensive care for a week & on IV drip of acyclovir for another week after leaving the hospital. It is also quite dangerous for pregnant women - WDW is a place where lots of women may be preggers & alot of kids go on Make-A-Wish trips etc....
CP can also have fatal complications in kids/adults who are not immuno-compromised - rarer, true, but it is a dangerous illness.

Please, have a chat with your son's pediatrician re. these issues before you go - Yes, we have treatments here in the US, usually only used if CP is taking a dangerous turn (as far as I know)- acyclovir, gancyclovir & famcyclovir - If you can get a script for them in the UK as a course of regular treatment, then I would do that- I would think it'll be harder for you to obtain the meds here, with insurance issues, etc... - Ask your pediatrcian if your son could take preventative treatment
I know that you & your family are very excited about your trip - & I'm sure you want to do what's best for your child & would feel terrible if he did have CP & it spread to folks who's bodies might not handle it so well...I think your pediatrician might be able to best answer your questions, perhaps even provide some in case meds....
Good luck to you guys - I will be sending you healthy spirit!

[Joanne M]

I just want to add a point that may have been overlooked. Chicken pox is a highly contagious virus, spread through droplets. Because it may start out as cold-like symptoms, the virus will be spread readily through sneezing, coughing, blowing nose, saliva, breathing, etc. You are contagious before you develop the rash, and remain contagious until every pox has scabbed over. This may take a week, depending upon the severity of the illness and the number of lesions.

I would consult your doctor immediately and find out what restictions you may have regarding international travel. This is not something to be taken lightly, either for your child's safety or the safety of others who will be exposed.

I realize I am one of those who are putting a damper on your travel plans, but this is something not to be ignored.

[TracyK]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I have read up extensively on this and also consulted my doctor. He has advised me that I should go ahead and travel unless my son develops the spots before then. He was not in a postion to do a blood test as the results would not be back in time. He has also advised me that Chicken Pox is dangerous to a small minority of the population.
My son has been exposed several times in the past and has not caught it.
The travel insurance won't pay out unless my son has actually developed the virus and the airline refuse to carry us. I am concerned for other peoples wellbeing and obviously won't be travelling if he breaks out in spots before the weekend. I am however not in a position to cancel just incase. I would lose thousands of £'s and I'm not in a position to be able to do that just on the off chance that he is infectious.
I certainly have not taken this lightly and I am grateful for the advice given but I was really posting to find out what treatment was available in the US. My doctor mentioned that you have different treatments available over there. He would not provide me with a prescription as we don't actually know if he has it yet. He advised me to see a doctor in the US should it be necessary.
Tracy

[Leota]

Tracy - I feel for you, really I do - I can imagine that this decision is not an easy one for you....
As the mother of an immuno-compromised child, tho & one whose child was exposed by a Mom knowingly sending her sick child to school, becuase "cp is no big deal" - after a week of Intensive Care & fears of losing my child - I must urge you to really carefully consider the fact that CP is highly contagious, airbourne contagion & there are lots of kids at WDW every day who have compromised Immune Systems due to cancer, luekemia, AIDS etc... These kids are already facing terminal illness & topping off a trip to WDW with a stay in Intensive Care is no fun.....even less fun if what should be a happy memory for the family turns tragic from fatal CP complications....

No matter how "small" the population is - it is a population in which CP can kill...not a risk I'd care to take - I can't believe your Doc was so callous about these other kids & the risk that exposure to CP puts them at.....

Good luck - I really, really pray that your child does not have CP.....................:( :( :( :(

[Mermaid02]

The day or so before my dd broke out in chicken pox she was nauseous and had a fever..... the next morning she felt fine... I sent her to school... that next night we found her first spot.

I had to keep my ds home from my inlaws Christmas party because my dh's stupid cousin PURPOSELY exposed her kids and they broke out over Christmas and my son had just had surgery for a ruptured appendix the week before.... meaning he couldn't take the chance.....

[Wonderlandmom]

When and How was he exposed?

[Mermaid02]

I believe that cp are contagious BEFORE you actually break out too. Is Deb around??

[Deb in IA]

Oh, hi. Someone call my name?;)

Yes, a child with chicken pox is actually contagious one day BEFORE the rash erupts. That's why it is spread so easily.

[Mermaid02]

That was THE QUICKEST call back from a pediatrician I have EVER gotten in MY LIFE! ROTFL!:p

[Joanne M]

I realize how difficult it must be to make a decision like this, based on what may only possibly happen. I also think the doctor in this case is not being as cautious as he should be. It is not a good idea to travel on a plane if you have an illness that is spread through airborne particles, the way chicken pox is spread. The ventillation on planes is a closed system, so the old air is recirculated throughout the plane. They do have the ability to add in some fresh air from the outside, but on many or most flights, this is not done in sufficient amounts. So the same old air, containing all those germs keeps going around and around.

Also, keep in mind that the chicken pox virus is responsible for shingles, which is an adult disease. This can be VERY serious in many adults, and is also extremely painful. A friend of mine came very close to being blinded by shingles while in his 30s, and in very good health. Many older people contract debilitating cases of shingles, which can linger or recur. This virus is not one to mess around with....

I would try calling WDW and asking them if they would transfer the reservations to different days, possibly. This just sounds too risky to chance. Not only for the child who might become ill while on vacation, but for all those who may also be affected.

[Tiggeroo]

lots of times and don't get them. Just being around somebody with them doesn't mean you are going to break out. Maybe if you call a blood lab, and pay cash you can get a titer level done quicker.

[Michelle]

I believe there are some anti-viral meds which given at the first sign of chicken pox can shortent the duration of the illness and/or make it less severe.

Honestly, you have no way at all of knowing if he will actually get the disease, my daughter was exposed MANY MANY times when she was young and never got it, and we then got her the vaccine when it became readily available. Hopefully your son will be one of the lucky ones and will be just fine. :)

And if he is unfortunate enough to come down with them after all there are several health care facilities near WDW and I'm sure you can get help from a doctor here.

Good luck! :)

[TracyK]

It appears that several of you are suggesting I think about cancelling my trip even though my son may not actually have Chicken Pox. I presume that those of you who feel this way would be prepared to lose several thousand dollars if you were in my position.
I feel also that some of you are under the impression that I am taking the risk lightly. This is not the case. The very nature of this illness means that people are usually exposed to this unknowingly. I would never knowingly expose other people to it but the truth is that I don't know. If my son did have it then I would make sure that he was kept in until the infectious time was over. The little boy who my son was in contact with had recently been in school with several children who had Chicken Pox. Are you suggesting that because he'd been exposed to it that his mum should have kept him in for the next 21 days just incase he was carrying it. Well she obviously didn't and that's how my son became exposed to it.
The insurance company WILL NOT compensate us if we just decide not to go incase he may develop Chicken Pox. In order for the insurance company to compensate us we would have to have a medical note to say he was not fit to travel. A doctor will only provide this note if a person is obviously infectious. It was suggested that my doctor could have been more cautious but I don't really see what he could have done.
I don't particularly want to go any more as I'll be dreading each day just in case he falls ill and then if he does he'll have to be confined to the hotel bedroom for the best part of the trip.
I would like to thank those who gave me advice. Michelle the anti-viral medications that you mentioned were what I wanted to know about. Hopefully if he does fall ill while we are away then I can get something like this to help him.
Tracy

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I feel bad for you:( . I would not cancel my trip on the possibility of my child possible getting sick. One never knows when their children are contagious. I read on these boards so many trip reports with children getting sick at WDW. Most of them keep on going to the parks! Lets hope your DS does not get the Chicken Pox. Go and enjoy! I am sure there are contagious people there all the time! People with immunosupressed systems KNOW this too!

[TracyK]

Thanks for that BibbidiBobbidiBoo.

[kidzmom3]

Hi! I also concur about the over the counter treatments. When my DS got the chicken pox they did not even want him to come into the drs office! lol They didn't want to infect any newborns. I just described the rash, pustules with what looks like water and chicken pox diagnosis confirmed (known exposure). I do not believe they offer antiviral medications routinely here in the US. Usually you just take fever meds (acetaminophin/ibuprofen), anti itch (benedryl/oatmeal baths) and thats it. My DH has been exposed many times and never contracted the disease. When our son had it, I worried so much because they say CP can cause sterility in men. Well, he never got it and we have had 2 more since then! Good luck to you, I hope the CP's do not appear and you have a fun filled vacation.

[A kid at heart]

Depending on the type of aircraft that you are flying and the age of it as well, most have recirculated air and if he does have it or is at leasty carrying the virus he can easily spread it to others on the plane, that may not be able to be in contact with a disease such as this. If there is a pregnant female aboard or someone who hasn't been immunized for it or has some form of illness themselves this is not good.

[jfulcer]

I also am wondering if your son had an immunization against chicken pox. If so, he may have been exposed but will not come down with it. DD was exposed to CP and also had the immunization. She still came down with CP, but only had about a hald dozen pox.

I also am of the mind that people who get on a transatlantic flight have to take into consideration that they are entering a closed environment. If your son does not have CP, there's nothing that says there is someone else on the plane that does.

Go, have a good trip, and try not to worry - he may never even come down with it...

[catsrule]

I got the chicken pox when I was 30. Benadryl worked wonders for me.

[WDW2002]

I am just curious what do you plan to do if you son does get CP after your arrivial, he will not be able to do anything for 7- 10 days while the pox heal??

[TracyK]

A kid at heart - If you had read my previous posts you would have seen that my son will NOT be in the aircraft if he actually HAS Chicken Pox.
WDW2002 - If you had also read my posts you would have seen that I will obviously have to keep my son in the hotel bedroom. I don't intend dragging him round the parks so as to infect as many people as possible. Would you stay home and lose the money only to find that he doesn't have Chicken Pox after all? If so, you must be extremely wealthy.
Jldriscoll - unfortunately we don't routinely have the vaccination here in the UK. My son is 12 and he has been exposed many times so fingers crossed he has some immunity. I appreciate your advice.
Thanks to those of you who actually seem to be hearing what I am saying and have helped with information. I have been worried sick over this for the past few days and just want to be as knowledgable as I can so I can do the best for my son and for anyone else we may come into contact with.
Tracy

[KimRaye]

{{HUGS}} Tracy!! I've heard you and, I understand.

GO, have a great time!

%-wise, I'd say your DS won't get CP anyway! ;)

All the more reason to Enjoy your trip!:Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc

Let us know how it goes, ok?:)

[Joanne M]

I think one point that may be overlooked is that you are infectious and can expose others to the virus BEFORE you know you are sick or have any visible pox. That is one reason this virus is not something to be taken lightly.

Another point that may be overlooked is that people who are reasonably healthy have much less to fear from exposure to this illness than those who are compromised in some way. There are a lot of factors that may compromise a person's immune system, making them more vulnerable to the terrible effects of this virus.

It sounds as if you have already made up your mind that you are going. Let's hope nothing comes of your son's exposure.

[WDW2002]

Originally posted by TracyK
WDW2002 - If you had also read my posts you would have seen that I will obviously have to keep my son in the hotel bedroom. I don't intend dragging him round the parks so as to infect as many people as possible. Would you stay home and lose the money only to find that he doesn't have Chicken Pox after all? If so, you must be extremely wealthy.

Your original post mentions nothing of staying in the hotel room f he gets the pox, just treatments in case he does.
My DS has been recently exposed to Chicken Pox and it is highly possible that he is incubating it. We are arriving in WDW at the weekend and I'm worried sick that he might be really ill for much of our stay. I don't know whether to bring some treatments from the UK as a precautionary measure or to get treatment in Orlando if necessary. What treatments are available either over the counter or from the doctor? Thanks for any advice.


And yes I would think hard about the possibility of cancelling the trip. NO I am not wealthy, far from it. With the # of trips you have in your signature, you are a millionaire compared to me. But I know i would much prefer to be in my own bed, at my own home if I were sick.

[TracyK]

Joanne M - you're right I have made up my mind I'm going and you will NOT stop me by trying to send me on a guilt trip. The only thing that will stop me is my son actually developing spots or becoming unwell over the next two days. I suppose you would be prepared to lose several thousand dollars on the off chance would you? If not, then you have no right to question me.
You are SOOO wrong when you say that it has been overlooked that you could be infectious before you get sick. You obviously haven't read all the posts as several people have made mention of this. How do you think my son became exposed? I presume you're saying that if you or another member of your family came in contact with Chicken Pox then you would not leave the house for 21 days just incase.
You have no right to insinuate that I would be knowingly putting people at risk because that is just not the case. If that was the case the insurers would be prepared to pay out if I made the decision to cancel the trip. But the bottom line with them is as far as they're concerned he is NOT and I repeat NOT ill.
For all you people who have flamed me just ask yourself if you would be prepared to bear the huge financial loss under the circumstances. Also ask yourself honestly if you would stay confined to the house for 21 days after exposure just incase you may be infectious.
KimRaye - thanks for your kind words. I will let you know how we get on. Thanks also to those who have PM'd me with words of advice and support.
Tracy

[Kelsie]

Originally posted by Joanne M
Also, keep in mind that the chicken pox virus is responsible for shingles, which is an adult disease. This can be VERY serious in many adults, and is also extremely painful. A friend of mine came very close to being blinded by shingles while in his 30s, and in very good health. Many older people contract debilitating cases of shingles, which can linger or recur. This virus is not one to mess around with....

Shingles is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is the virus that causes chickenpox. Shingles occurs in people who have HAD chickenpox and represents a reactivation of the dormant varicella-zoster virus. At least %10 of adults who have had chickenpox, WILL get Shingles. I had chickenpox at age 7 and shingles at age 45 :(

No one will catch 'Shingles' from a child with Chickenpox however, you can get chickenpox from anyone with shingles.

[Joanne M]

Tracy, I think you might want to calm down a little. I did not flame you or accuse you of anything. I also have not said anything with the intention of "sending you on a guilt trip." I stated my position, which may not be the same as yours, and there is no need to be quite so defensive.

When I mentioned that I felt certain points may have been overlooked, I was responding to other posts than just yours. Several people have been mentioning different aspects of your situation that they think should be considered. I did the same thing in mine.

Whether I would travel or not under the circumstances you describe is a separate issue. I don't believe you have enough information about me to be able to guess what I would do. I don't think that money is the issue, though.

As for exposure to chicken pox, I go by my physician's advice and that of nurses in our family. When a member of our family and extended family is possibly exposed, we make every attempt to keep the person away from others. This has included cancelling huge parties and other activities. We have also had to call everyone we may have contacted to alert them to our situation. Once we found out too late to stop an exposed child from attending a party - they were already on their way over and were driving a long distance. We had to quickly call all the other guests and tell them someone would be attending who had been exposed to chicken pox recently. This way, the other guests had the opportunity to make an educated decision about coming in contact with the (possibly) infected person.

In addition, I wouldn't necessarily think the trip insurance company would be the deciding factor regarding the infectivity of a virus. They may not think there is a problem, which means they will not have to pay your insurance claim. It is in their best interests to NOT cover a case such as yours. To me, this does not represent a reasonable medical opinion.

My attitude when planning a major vacation is that I will do whatever I can to make sure everything goes as well as possible. However, there are some things that are out of my control, including illness, weather, accidents, etc. That's the chance we take when making plans in advance. No, I wouldn't be too pleased with the possibility of having to rearrange an expensive vacation, but if necessary, I wouldn't have any choice but to do it.

The people in this thread have been trying to offer help, since you asked for help. I don't think it's necessary to react in anger simply because they may have a different opinion than one you were hoping to hear. The parents of children who have serious medical difficulties have reason to be sensitive to matters like this. I didn't see any posts here that were flaming you, but I also have not seen your PMs.

[TracyK]

WDW2002 - Firstly, I did not say read my original post, I said read my previous posts and I'm sure had you bothered to then you would have seen what I'd written. As far as presuming you know my financial position, you know nothing. I happen to be a single mother who works very hard in order to provide for my son. I note how you only say you would think hard about cancelling your trip. I've thought hard and decided not to. So basically you are saying do as I say and not as I do.
Joanne M - I don't really think I need to calm down. I have not been abusive but you have seen fit to question my judgement even though you obviously don't have the medical facts yourself.
I am not prepared to get into a slanging match with people who obviously don't fully understand the situation. I therefore won't be reading any further replies to this. I have received the advice I needed and lots of support via PM's. Thank you for that.
Tracy

[Tiggeroo]

to think that if my child is exposed to chicken pox, ex. somebody in their class gets the pox, that I will then keep my child in the house for the next 7-21 days waiting to see if they will break out. If everybody did that when they were exposed to something we would all be locking ourselves in at least one month out of the year. We all get exposed to things multiple times. Often we don't even know it. If we are able to, we fight it off. If you are in a large public place like Disney with a compromised immune system, odds are you are going to walk past people who are incubating something many times in a day. But, you also do this in your neighborhood grocery store, at the library, in school, etc. Because if it wasn't a Disney trip, as said earlier, very few people would keep their kids in the house every time they were around somebody with an ailment on the chance they might get this ailment. I substitute teach. On any given day kids are incubating flu, chicken pox, cold, ear infections, etc. The seemingly healthy kids go home hang out in the neighborhoods, and two days later are sick.

[Joanne M]

As my mom would say, "You may be right! But then again......";)

Tracy, we only have the medical facts that you have provided. And you are correct, I didn't say what I would do in your situation. I assumed you would take a different opinion as a personal attack. That is simply not the case here and I am sorry you feel that way. I believe the statements made previously by myself and others are accurate, and this is not a situation people tend to take lightly.

[kramer_clan]

Tracy,

Benadryl, Oatmeal Soaks and cornstarch are great ways to stop that itch that comes with chicken pox. My daughter ended up having to go on prednisone (steroid), because she had a bad reaction to the virus and ended up all swelled up. If he does break out, just watch for those signs of an allergic reaction.

Vicki

[Mackey Mouse]

I wonder do they still prescribe Periactin Syryp for Chicken Pox.. I have no clue, my youngest is now 24, but seems to me that is what the pediatrician prescribed then besides the other remedies the previous poster stated....

I also can say I took care of two daughters who had Chicken Pox.. my third daughter never got it and was in the same house with her sick sisters.. Also, I have never had Chicken Pox and took care of my two sick children.. soooooooooooo, I would say go and have a ball.. if he gets sick, then you will deal with it then..

Have a wonderful time.. :) :)

[zurgswife]

TracyK......IMHO.....people of this world don't stop living everytime they are possibly exposed to a contagious disease....otherwise the disease would stop spreading.....To think that just because your child was exposed that you should continue to quarintine him for 7 to 21 days is just riduclous....

All my children were exposed at least 5-6 times before they all came down with it during the summer 2 years ago....I did have a trip planned and the insurance did come through as I was not able to board a plane with a child breaking out....

You sound as though you are as conscienous as most people would be....so I would continue with your plans and enjoy WDW....

If you do come down with the CP then I'm sure you'll deal with it the best you can....

Good Luck

PS
I have learned on these boards that sometimes when people offer their opinions; they often read harsher then they were originally intended....