can you fly with chicken pox?

[mommytomy3]

This is just a me worrying question... 4 kids(all vaccinated) in my DD's class have chicken pox right now (one of them was just at my house today- I was driving them to ballet-and she was saying how she "has bug bites on her face! AACK!!) so I guess that my DD was definately exposed. We leave for WDW in 3 days (Sat) and are staying for 10 (until 5/1) Incubation is around 2 weeks, so hopefully, if she does get it, it wont be until we get home, however sometimes incubation can be shorter(like 10 days), so if, God forbid, she developed it while we were in Disney, can she still fly- will they allow her in the airplane if she is contagious? what would we have to do?
Im really hoping she doesnt get it, she had the vaccine(so did the other kids though)but Im worried too because my DH never had them.
Thanks

 

[Kimberlyfamilyfv]

No, if she can expose someone else the answer is no. You risk exposing to many people. If you want to verify this call your local health department.
If you get to the airport and it is visible you can be refused boarding.

If this causes your vacation to be cancelled I would hope you have trip insurance. If you do I would look at the terms of your contract.


Please, Please think about this very carefully and be considerate of others and don't risk someone else's health for your vacation because you could risk someone that already has a low immune system.

Kimberly

 

[mommytomy3]

Please, Please think about this very carefully and be considerate of others and don't risk someone else's health for your vacation because you could risk someone that already has a low immune system.

Kimberly

Oh, I know... my DH has never had them and I know it can be dangerous for adults.
Im just asking what if and what can I do. I cant cancel a vacation on the chance that she "might" get it . and if she does get them, it can be anywhere from 10-21 days after exposure (typically 14)
I just dont know what to do if she were to happen to get them while there (because that would fall within the 10-13 mark) kwim?

 

[Kimberlyfamilyfv]

I would have a car rental on reserve and prepare to drive home. If you are still going to go then I would fill up a medicine kit full of anything you might need if she does get them. Because you don't want to spend 3 times the money on pain medicine and itch medicine.


Kimberly

 

[lauritagoddess]

You're infectious until all the chicken pox blisters have scabbed over which is usually 5-10 days after they erupt, so if your daughter had visible chicken pox blisters that weren't scabbed over, then no she shouldn't be flying. You're also infectious for a day or two before the blisters erupt, so it's possible you could be flying back and she wouldn't have any symptoms but would still be infectious.

 

[BibbidiBobbidiBOO]

I would just assume the shot will work and have a great trip! If she should break out, then deal with it and drive home or stay an extra night or 2. My kids had the shot 9 years ago and have been exposed countless times. As far as your husband is concerned why not send him to the Dr. for a shot asap! Why risk getting them? Can't remember how long it takes to be effective though. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[CarolA]

From the USAToday....

Airline flights may have spurred mumps outbreak
As concerns about bird flu outbreaks continue to make headlines, it’s an outbreak of mumps in the Midwest that appears to have caught the attention of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Keith L. Alexander, the “Business Class” columnist for The Washington Post (free registration), says CDC officials confirmed the possibility that airline travelers could contract mumps, measles or even tuberculosis from other airline passengers during flights. "The transmission of diseases during air travel is something we don't have a complete understanding of," Ram Koppaka, chief of quarantine and border health services at the CDC, tells Alexander. "Our belief is there is a risk of transmission."

That concern comes after a recent mumps outbreak started in Iowa before spreading to six nearby states, with more than 600 cases now reported. Alexander writes that the outbreak “has been linked to two airline passengers who were potentially infectious during travel on nine commercial flights involving two airlines (Northwest and American) between March 26 and April 2.” CDC officials tell Alexander that some cases may begin to emerge now for those traveling on the affected flights, which Alexander lists in his column. He says that the CDC suggests that passengers on those flights monitor themselves for symptoms such as a stiff jaw, sore throats, fever and coughing.

Katherine Andrus, assistant general counsel for the Air Transport Association, tells Alexander, "It's also important that people monitor their own health and defer travel if they are ill. Just as you wouldn't want your co-worker to come into the office if he or she is sick, you don't want to sit next to someone on a bus, at the airport or on an airplane who may be contagious." Of course, good luck getting your airline to waive the $100 change-of-ticket fee if you put off your flight plans because of an illness.

 

[mommytomy3]

Well, let's make it 6 kids now! :-O I just heard of 2 more!
anyway, We called the car rental company, and to drive our rental car we have for our time there, home, it only adds an extra $45!! the woman herself couldnt believe the rate and put us on hold while she double checked!
and we requested a minivan with a dvd player just in case!
so that is my back up plan, LOL-- if she does happen to get them while there, we are driving home!

ALSO-- I called my peds. office to get their opinion.. the one I spoke to said:
Go, have fun, dont worry about it. If you worried about things like your whole life, you'd never do anything.
I said: can she fly if she hads them? he said: Yes; you gotta fly, then you gotta fly. what can you do.
I said: if she gets them there, can she still go out, even if she's contagious?
he said: Yes, as long as she feels okay and doesnt have a high fever.

Let me clarify that doesnt mean I would do those things, that is just what he said!! like I said, we'll drive home- already have a second reservation on the van if we need it!

As for DH getting the shot: when an adult gets the vaccine, they get it in 2 doses- 6 weeks apart-- a few years ago, he went for the first shot- before he got the second one, he got pneumonia, so they werent able to give him the second shot.. so I dont know if it would work or what... also, when he got it, they had to special order it for him (they dont stock it) and it took some time to get. But Im with you, .-- let's hope the vaccine will work for DD and she doesnt get it anyway!!!

 

[disneymom3]

I cannot believe the peds office told you that!! I mean, I believe you, but I am appalled at them. Are they insane? What if there are some people with compromised immune systems on that flight? Sure they take a risk, but for someone to knowingly expose other people is nuts! Now, I am a crazy woman who let (and hoped they would) my kids get natural chicken pox, but I also have a friend whose child went to WDW for their Make a Wish trip--as so many kids do. I also have a sister who had Hodgkins and she has none of her original immunities and can't get the shot for some reason. So, the pediatrician thinks it's just dandy to go out and infect the world? Nice.

As I said, I know you have stated you wouldn't do that but I am just disgusted that the doctors office told you too. That is awesome news about the car rental! Now you can relax and enjoy your trip knowing you have a contingency plan in place if she should happen to get them. That is one strong virus going around her class. It's freaky that so many kids who were immunized have gotten it anyway.

 

[curiouser]

Most airlines have a policy that the lesions must be completely scabbed over or you must present a doctors note that the person in question is non-contageous. I know you're planning on driving if said happens, but I thought I'd mention it for those intereste.d

 

[mommytomy3]

That is one strong virus going around her class. It's freaky that so many kids who were immunized have gotten it anyway.

I know, it does seem strange for the Dr. to say that....there could be people with weak immune systems on the plane, etc. !!!
anyway, yes, it IS freaky, and guess what- another mom just called me, and you can make that 7 kids now! 7!!!! I just cant believe it-- this last one was immunized, I just dont get it! It must be a crazy strain... Im worried about my DH , and I also have a 2 year old who, if he got it, would scratch like crazy, and if I told him not to, he'd do it more!! I also have a 7 month old, who has not been vaccinated yet, but I am nursing so hopefully he'll have my immunites. I just emailed DD's teacher and said Im keeping her home tomorrow so send her work with her today.
I cant believe this is happening now.... this is the first time I haven't purchased travel insurance, LOL

 

[mrsmom]

I can't believe either your ped office said that. I think the person who said that better check their info. Because i know my dd has a very narrow airway and is on a cpap machine for breathing at night, if she was to get chicken pox in her mouth. it could be deadly. We are flying also in a couple weeks and i think you should just watch for it and have a back up plan if need be. But my other kids have been exposed twice and thank heavens, they haven't gotten them. Pixie dust for your DD.
Kim

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Most airlines have a policy that the lesions must be completely scabbed over or you must present a doctors note that the person in question is non-contageous. I know you're planning on driving if said happens, but I thought I'd mention it for those intereste.d

They can have the policy but who is going to check for that?

 

[hannahsmomma]

Ummm....please don't get on my plane! We leave tomorrow on SWA. I want my kids to stay healthy, please!

 

[Letsbgoofy]

mommytomy3,

Are they sure this is the chicken pox? 7 vacinated kids getting the chicken pox at the same time (without the incubation period in between the cases) is more than freaky, it has to be some kind of mathmatical anomaly. I work with preschool kids and a few have gotten the chicken pox even though they were vacinated. Those that did had only a few spots, and never passed it to others although they are in close contact. I have seen things like hand, foot and mouth disease that look like the chicken pox, and that spread like mad.

 

[mommytomy3]

I can't believe either your ped office said that. i think you should just watch for it and have a back up plan if need be. But my other kids have been exposed twice and thank heavens, they haven't gotten them. Pixie dust for your DD.
Kim

I know.... maybe he (Dr) said it because they know that I am a HUGE worrier (my son passed away in a accident when he was 2 and 1/2) so maybe he was trying to get me not to freak out over it???.
I do have a backup plan (in my 2nd post)
its good to know others kids have been exposed and not got the CP...thanks for the pixie dust!!!

 

[mommytomy3]

mommytomy3,

Are they sure this is the chicken pox? 7 vacinated kids getting the chicken pox at the same time (without the incubation period in between the cases) is more than freaky, it has to be some kind of mathmatical anomaly. I work with preschool kids and a few have gotten the chicken pox even though they were vacinated. Those that did had only a few spots, and never passed it to others although they are in close contact. I have seen things like hand, foot and mouth disease that look like the chicken pox, and that spread like mad.

Yes, its chicken pox... the first kid got them about 2 weeks ago.. his Dr. said that it was the worst case he has seen in someone that has had the vaccine. now, 2 weeks later, there are now 6 more kids out (the ones he infected 2 weeks ago) all but one were vaccinated- I know this because i just called the school nurse before and asked. She did also tell me that there were another few cases in 2 other grades (all of the kids Im talking about though are in the same classroom) and she said, that except for the first kid, the other cases on the vaccinated kids were very mild. It still is weird though!

 

[klineyqueen]

Good Luck! Try not to stress about it too much! We went to Disney with friends of ours and their daughter got the pox about 2 weeks before we left. she was also vaccinated! We were all crossing our fingers that the other kids would be fine and...they were!!! Have a great time and don't worry about something you can't control anyway!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Oh, I know... my DH has never had them and I know it can be dangerous for adults.

Why in the world hasn't he been vaccinated?

It would be horribly irresponsible to take your kids to DW if they are incubating the virus, because they will be contagious. The incubation period for chickenpox is 10 to 21 days after exposure; most cases appear in 14 to 17 days.

 

[mommytomy3]

Why in the world hasn't he been vaccinated?

It would be horribly irresponsible to take your kids to DW if they are incubating the virus, because they will be contagious. The incubation period for chickenpox is 10 to 21 days after exposure; most cases appear in 14 to 17 days.

He tried to get vaccinated a few years ago.. adults get 2 doses 6 weeks apart. He got the first shot, but before he went back, he got pneumonia, and wasn't able to get the second shot.

How could anyone know if they are incubating the virus? just because someone was around people that got the virus doesnt mean they will definately get it, especially if they were vaccinated. so how would that make someone irresponsible? anyone can be incubating any virus and not know it yet. You never know