My Son's leg is infected

[gwmort]

We leave for our Med cruise trip in 10 days. Over the weekend my son tore up his knee and shin and it got infected. The doctor started him on a 10 day course of oral antibiotic but if it doesn't work they say we may need to hospitalize him for IV antibiotics, which would be the day we leave.

Travel insurance and cancellation policies aside. If he is still showing signs of infection, will we be able to travel internationally? Is there likely a problem at the airline? International borders? The cruise terminal?

 

[MrsSmalls]

I'd ask the doctor if they recommend flying with the infection. Some meds and infections can increase the chance of a blot clot, especially in a leg. Fingers crossed that the antibiotic works quickly!

 

[CathyCU03]

Ask for the IV antibiotics now. Tell the Dr. you need this cleared up fast and ask them to be very aggressive.

 

[wilkeliza]

If he is still showing infection I wouldn't risk taking him internationally on a cruise. If an infection like that doesn't heal up you could end up with a ton of complications.

Did you inform your doctor that you have an international vacation coming up in 10 days and ask his/her opinion? I don't even think international vs domestic really matters. If the infection is bad they may not want to clear him for travel until they are 100% sure the infection is taken care of completely.

 

[ldo]

Just FYI, so you don't get stuck with a big bill that ins. doesn't cover. Your insurance might not pay for hospitalization prior to the course of oral antiB. I was hosp. once with IV antiB and the ins said hosp. was not necessary. Mine was an aggressive staff infection that the Dr. didn't even bother with oral 1st. One option is to ask for home health nurse to come and administer the IV or go to an outpatient center 3X a day.
I agree with others, you need to get clearance from Dr. to travel. I would get a note on Dr. letterhead saying OK to travel. I would also make an appt for Thurs or Friday to recheck. After 4-5 days on antiB, Dr. might be able to decide if it is clearing up on schedule.

 

[Ofinn]

How long ago did he start the antibiotics? It takes 3 or 4 days to notice improvement. The infection is either going to be gone in 10 days or its not. There is nothing you can really do, but wait it out. I don't think you have to worry about traveling with an infection because if its not better in 10 days then he's going to need more aggressive treatment, and you'll have to cancel. Good luck, relax give the meds some time to work before deciding.

 

[gwmort]

Just FYI, so you don't get stuck with a big bill that ins. doesn't cover. Your insurance might not pay for hospitalization prior to the course of oral antiB. I was hosp. once with IV antiB and the ins said hosp. was not necessary. Mine was an aggressive staff infection that the Dr. didn't even bother with oral 1st. One option is to ask for home health nurse to come and administer the IV or go to an outpatient center 3X a day.
I agree with others, you need to get clearance from Dr. to travel. I would get a note on Dr. letterhead saying OK to travel. I would also make an appt for Thurs or Friday to recheck. After 4-5 days on antiB, Dr. might be able to decide if it is clearing up on schedule.

This is my concern with asking for immediate hospitalization.

We did tell the Dr about the trip and she is being as aggressive with the follow up, we go back in a couple of days to see how it is doing. it doesn't help that my son is also allergic to pencillin so the treatments are a little more limited.

I am hoping the infection will be under control or gone and we'll just have to deal with mobility issues, but I don't know what kind of issues we'll have along the way. I don't want to get to Barcelona just to have some customs agent not let him enter the country or something.

 

[ldo]

As PP said, in 10 days, it's either clear, or nearly clear and he continues for more day on oral, or it's not. But, Dr. should have a good sense at recheck.

 

[Ofinn]

This is my concern with asking for immediate hospitalization.

We did tell the Dr about the trip and she is being as aggressive with the follow up, we go back in a couple of days to see how it is doing. it doesn't help that my son is also allergic to pencillin so the treatments are a little more limited.

I am hoping the infection will be under control or gone and we'll just have to deal with mobility issues, but I don't know what kind of issues we'll have along the way. I don't want to get to Barcelona just to have some customs agent not let him enter the country or something.

How would the customs agents know that he had been on antibiotics for a infected knee? All they want to know is why your visiting. They are not going to ask you about your medical history.

 

[T1nkerBell]

To answer your question to the best of my ability: I don't think you need to worry about the borders, flights or cruise as long as the infection is not contagious (which I would think is unlikely). The big question would be whether he is recovering enough to travel.

There is no health-check at Schengen borders (I'm assuming your a US citizen and/you can enter without a visa). Cruises and airlines would care whether one is contagious, but neither perform medical checks as far as I know

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

 

[CamColt]

I don't have any medical advice for you, but good thoughts and pixie dust are on the way!

 

[gwmort]

To answer your question to the best of my ability: I don't think you need to worry about the borders, flights or cruise as long as the infection is not contagious (which I would think is unlikely). The big question would be whether he is recovering enough to travel.

There is no health-check at Schengen borders (I'm assuming your a US citizen and/you can enter without a visa). Cruises and airlines would care whether one is contagious, but neither perform medical checks as far as I know

Best wishes for a speedy recovery!

Thank you, yes we are US citizens traveling without visas.

I don't want to post pictures but the affected area is large and because it includes part of the knee he'll be walking with a limp. I realize I can cover with bandages and long pants, but I wanted to know what the rules are in case an over zealous agent decides a health check is necessary. I hope its not the case 10 days from now but for the past couple of days it has been oozing.

I assumed all infections were contagious (assuming he came in contact with someone else with an open wound or something), isn't that what "infectious" means? I'm not worried about someone else catching his infection (we'll keep him out of pools and stuff), but if I was a border agent I might be concerned about someone bringing an unknown active infection into my country.

 

[TheDisneyNurse]

I feel you there. I'm allergic to penicillin, too. It's a real pain I don't think he would be prevented from traveling. But for his health, I wouldn't leave until his infection is cleared up. It will only get worse if treatment is not completed. Try and push for the IV antibiotics now.

 

[wilkeliza]

Thank you, yes we are US citizens traveling without visas.

I don't want to post pictures but the affected area is large and because it includes part of the knee he'll be walking with a limp. I realize I can cover with bandages and long pants, but I wanted to know what the rules are in case an over zealous agent decides a health check is necessary. I hope its not the case 10 days from now but for the past couple of days it has been oozing.

I assumed all infections were contagious (assuming he came in contact with someone else with an open wound or something), isn't that what "infectious" means? I'm not worried about someone else catching his infection (we'll keep him out of pools and stuff), but if I was a border agent I might be concerned about someone bringing an unknown active infection into my country.

If it is as visible as you are describing in 10 days then you could have some issues with airlines. Some times they are over the top on who is allowed to fly and who isn't. However if it is still like that in 10 days I don't imagine your doctor will approve him for travel in the follow up.

Unfortunately you are going to have to take a wait and see IV or oral antibiotics or not. If it is a bad infection that isn't clearing up then there isn't anything you can do to change that. All you can do is push for a more aggressive approach but that is between you and your son's doctor.

 

[RedSox68]

If the infection seems to be clear enough to travel, my only concern would be his sitting on a long flight without moving the leg. Ask the doctor for advice on that part, otherwise border/customs aren't going to know or care about his leg. And when you are filling out the health forms to board the ship, they only care about infectious diseases.

 

[bumbershoot]

People limp all the time. Having some airport personnel deciding he can't fly because of a leg wound isn't something I would worry about.

 

[JimGA]

If there is any trace of an infection I would not go at all.

 

[Ofinn]

In 10 days he may not even limp, be free of pain, and have no signs of infection. Kids generally heal quickly. If border patrol agents stopped people that are infected they would have to deny entrance to everyone that has a common cold. Many infections arent contagious. I would not worry about that.

 

[darnheather]

Talk to your doctor. This is really not a question for strangers on the internet.

 

[LizGirl]

I've had a "booster" antibiotic shot before to help an infection clear up. Perhaps this is an easy next step if he is not showing improvement after the first couple of days on oral meds? I would definitely discuss your plans with the doctor so they can help you with a strategy to get him healing and mobile.

I hope he is feeling better soon!