take a sick child to disney??? flame suit on!!!!

[MarkBarbieri]

Stomach viruses are our problem. The last three trips someone has gotten one. On one trip, both boys picked them up on the way down to WDW. They were stuck in the hotel from when we arrive on Saturday until Thursday. It was easily our worst vacation ever. To make it even worse, it was a multi-family trip, so they would see their cousins going off to Disney World each day while they stayed and prayed to the porcelain god that they would get better.

 

[momof3littlelilos]

As far as the "irresponsible" parents, children with chicken pox are the most contagious BEFORE there are any symptoms. Chances are your child would have gotten chicken pox anyway if they were in the same class.

My son had cancer and letters were sent home at the beginning of the year and the middle of the year that if you suspected your child was sick to keep them home or at a minimum contact me first so I could at least keep my child home because certain diseases would put his life at risk.
Needless to say no one ever called, and I was informed of the chicken pox by the nurse after she sent kids home...and at that point my son had to be hospitalized and put on VZig.
The concensus was that these kids had come in jacked up on tylenol because no-one wanted to or could lose a days pay.
Calling those parents "irresponsible" is generous given the circumstances...
I know vaccinations aren't guarantees - that's why my youngest kids aren't being vaccinated for this disease...but that's a whol 'nother thread. (but I still stand by my original point, if your an adult and know you're not immune than you should get the vaccine, not have a public mandate that all children get it to protect the few.)

 

[TinkerbellMama]

All of my kids have been vacinated.

My son hasn't been vaccinated for anything, but I don't worry about what he might catch at WDW. We go and have a great time! If he caught chicken pox there, we wouldn't know it until after we got home, anyway...so it wouldn't ruin our good time!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

My son had cancer and letters were sent home at the beginning of the year and the middle of the year that if you suspected your child was sick to keep them home or at a minimum contact me first so I could at least keep my child home because certain diseases would put his life at risk.
Needless to say no one ever called, and I was informed of the chicken pox by the nurse after she sent kids home...and at that point my son had to be hospitalized and put on VZig.
The concensus was that these kids had come in jacked up on tylenol because no-one wanted to or could lose a days pay.
Calling those parents "irresponsible" is generous given the circumstances...
I know vaccinations aren't guarantees - that's why my youngest kids aren't being vaccinated for this disease...but that's a whol 'nother thread. (but I still stand by my original point, if your an adult and know you're not immune than you should get the vaccine, not have a public mandate that all children get it to protect the few.)

My point wasn't that it's OK to send your child to school with chicken pox -- of course it isn't, especially if there's a particularly vulnerable child in the class. My point is that even if parents do their job and keep hom children who show symptoms of Chicken Pox, other children will still be infected. Vaccinating individual children is not all that effective, mutant viruses will still break through and the vaccine won't "take" in everyone. However, vaccinating the entire population of children is much more effective, because it cuts down the amount of virus in circulation which means it has less chance to mutate, and the children for who the vaccine don't take are protected by the fact that there are fewer children with the virus in their environment.

I am a teacher. I have worked for 13 years in a jurisidiction that mandates the vaccine. I also have a 7 year old who has been in school/daycare since he was tiny -- always in different schools from where I worked. During that time I have encountered chicken pox once -- in a classmate's of my son's when he was in an infant's program -- the child was too young to be vaccinated. In contrast, as a child chicken pox went through our school every few years.

 

[rt2dz]

TAking a sick child (or adult) anywhere while contagious is horrible. But a child who is sick and feeling fine (not one who is still dragging and needs to rest) but not contagious, is a parent's decision.

Just remember, a child with strep (and many other illnesses) who has been on antibotics correctly for 24 hours is not contagious. Bronchotis can't be caught from strep either. All illnesses are generally contagious for 2-3 days before any signs of the illness appear--especially the flu. That is why your child is fine and then suddenly severly ill; they didn't catch it at that moment, but sometime in the previous 3 days.

And as previously mentioned, chicken pox is contagious for one week before pox break out. That is why it spreads so rapidly. Of course, children who have the pox need to be kept out of the sunlight for complications. And not every child who has chicken pox is sick in any way besides having pox. When I had them, as an adult, I had three pox and no other symptoms. I was very lucky, especially since I got pregnant the next week.

And, of course, people who are vaccinated can still get chicken pox--heck people CAN get them twice the old fashioned way, my sister did--there immunity generally isn't built up enough, more like they needed a stronger form of the vaccine. Also, it's just generally a lighter form than they normally would have had. Kind of like the flu and flu shots. Nothing is ever a guarantee. Vaccines simply help you, and help others.

 

[lauritagoddess]

I wouldn't take my DS if he was contagious say with chicken pox, but I was actually thinking about this now because he's sick now with a cold/croup/asthma flare-up and we're leaving in 7 days. If this had happened a week from now, call me a bad mother, but I'd take him. Anything upper respiratory and his breathing issues flare. We've gone through this so many times that I don't need to take him to a doctor, I know what meds to give and if anything the steroids get him all hyped up and he needs to burn energy. If he was running a high fever, and he's a kid who spikes fevers, I'd keep us in the resort until his temp was down, but otherwise we'd enjoy the parks and just do less. I did actually take him to Sesame Place last year when he was sick. He started running a fever the evening before we were planning to go. I took him to his ped the next morning and asked her what she would do. She said she'd take him. We did a strep test just in case and she had me call the next day and if necessary would have phoned a prescription into a pharmacy near our hotel. As it was, it was just a fever, I dosed him up with Tylenol and he had a great time. I'd also take him with an ear infection as long as he was on antibiotics. He's had tubes in and his adenoids out, but we've done the ear infection rounds so many times, again it's not a big deal. All in all, we'd be happier with his being sick in WDW than missing the trip and being sick at home.

 

[kaysmommie]

Stomach viruses are our problem. The last three trips someone has gotten one. On one trip, both boys picked them up on the way down to WDW. They were stuck in the hotel from when we arrive on Saturday until Thursday. It was easily our worst vacation ever. To make it even worse, it was a multi-family trip, so they would see their cousins going off to Disney World each day while they stayed and prayed to the porcelain god that they would get better.

That is horrible that your trip got ruined. Sound like nightmare. I have heard of families getting sick from all the germs at the parks too. I'm bringing my Purrell and wipes with me. Also Lysol for our room. I don't want our vacation ruined. I'm going to hope for the best.

 

[KelsiesMommy]

Seeing as how an ear infection isn't really contagious- in that situation I'd say you know your child best and do what's best. I've taken kids with colds, but nothing worse. If my kids were contagious, I'd keep them home, regardless of vacation plans. I wouldn't want to deal with sick kids away from home, and I certainly wouldn't want them to infect anyone else while there and ruin other people's vacations JMO

 

[TENIA66]

we drive so my son's ear infection wasn't affected by flying, and the upright position actually helped it drain better and he was more comfortable than lying down. had he not wanted to get out of the hotel we'd have stayed in in shifts, but after a day of travel and antibiotics he was good as gold ready to go...he was at that time my second child, both who had ear infections. my dd had the severe rupture as described by another poster, with horrible drainage, (cup an hour, no kidding for about 2 days) and was in ICU. we wouldn't have traveled with her that way anyway as she totally became devastated with each ear infection.....if we had, disney has wonderful medical staff, even those who visit you in your room if needed then contact your physician at home if necessary to help you out......

 

[LaraK]

I agree that the issue is contageous or not contageous....my son had aspiration pneumonia just prior to one of our trips, but it wasn't contageous and we had meds in him for a week before going. When your kid get sick all the time, you do alot when they're sick...just not when they're miserable.

 

[MissD]

Eww! That's so gross. I'm sorry. I can't even imagine...
Some people are just amazingly narcissistic...or would it be sociopathic...I dunno...sometimes I'm just totally floored by people.

In the case of those folks.....I would say just plain old SELFISH works

 

[antree]

As far as the chicken pox goes,they are contagious until they scab. We went to a party where my cousin had the chicken pox, we didn't know they had them until after we were there, because the kids were in the basement playing. I left as soon as I found out and 2 wks later my DD got the chicken pox. Her Dr. told us that they are contagious until they scab over. These are kids we never ever seen so she did get it from that day at the party.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

My DD 9 had chicken pox (a good case too) at the age of 6 months. That is according to our Ped. the earliest age that an infant can contract the disease because the mother's immunity system in the infant has waned. She was exposed to the disease totally unbeknownst to me. Since that time, her Ped. did not give her the vaccination based on her case of chicken pox, but now she has had shingles twice and she is only 9, she contracted from someone walking around with an active virus. But DH has also had chicken pox twice and since I have known him, he has had 6 cases of shingles. Both of them have an active virus that lies dormant in their systems.

What I seem to be having a problem with on this thread is this, I live in a tourist town. I am not trying to be judgemental, but please please please for the sakes of those that you might be infecting and those that care for the ones that might become infected, if you have a sick and contagious child, stay in your hotel room. Don't go shopping, don't go to the parks, and please do not go to restaurants. I can not even begin to tell you how many times my family has gotten sick or my friends families have gotten sick by being exposed to illnesses that tourists bring into our town.

I take all the necessary precautions to keep my family healthy, but if everyone would just follow simple guidelines, which we all know what they are, it sure would keep from spreading a lot of germs around.

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

This all sounds like a pretty convincing argument for trip insurance to me. Isn't illness in your immediate family covered?

 

[kaysmommie]

My DD 9 had chicken pox (a good case too) at the age of 6 months. That is according to our Ped. the earliest age that an infant can contract the disease because the mother's immunity system in the infant has waned. She was exposed to the disease totally unbeknownst to me. Since that time, her Ped. did not give her the vaccination based on her case of chicken pox, but now she has had shingles twice and she is only 9, she contracted from someone walking around with an active virus. But DH has also had chicken pox twice and since I have known him, he has had 6 cases of shingles. Both of them have an active virus that lies dormant in their systems.

What I seem to be having a problem with on this thread is this, I live in a tourist town. I am not trying to be judgemental, but please please please for the sakes of those that you might be infecting and those that care for the ones that might become infected, if you have a sick and contagious child, stay in your hotel room. Don't go shopping, don't go to the parks, and please do not go to restaurants. I can not even begin to tell you how many times my family has gotten sick or my friends families have gotten sick by being exposed to illnesses that tourists bring into our town.

I take all the necessary precautions to keep my family healthy, but if everyone would just follow simple guidelines, which we all know what they are, it sure would keep from spreading a lot of germs around.

I completely agree with you! Some people have no sense at all and bring a contagious child anywhere they want with no respect to others. BTW I bought trip insurance so if my kids get sick before we leave canceling is and option, even with all the planning I've done. I would reschedule in a couple months.

 

[barkley]

the issue with trip insurance is there are very detailed clauses regarding preexisting conditions-so even if a person has had no indication of of say an ear infection but the doctors checks the ears as a precautionary measure relative to a minor sinus issue-the trip insurance can and likely will deny coverage.

as far as personal med insurance goes-i would advise anyone traveling outside their 'provider area' to read thier policy in detail. i have some of the best the market offers, but it precludes anything out of my home area unless THEY DEEM (NOT I, NOT THE PROVIDER HOSPITAL) that the issue is LIFE THREATENEING. i was never so glad to have travel insurance as when both kids came down, day 2 with raging ear infections that required medical treatment. we opted to go with the in room doctors wdw referrd us to (not sure if they are still available-were'nt a few years ago) who prescribed antibiotics and pain relieving drops, and actualy did multiple phone follow ups -all of which we paid full price for (around $500 total). although the md's and our pediatrician upon our return documented that both kids had they gone untreated would likely have experienced ruptured eardrums on the return flight had they not received timely medical intervention-our insurance company deemed that loss of hearing is not life threatening (god love these people and their empathy ). so our travel insurance picked everything up with a total $50 co-pay.

after that experience i have always budgeted travel insurance in any trips out of state/country-and my pediatricin realy supported my decision back in may '05. my dd (10 at the time) fell, at home, rideing her bike and among other injuries was thought to have simply spained her arm-well, a subsequent xray found that there was a break and at some point during her childhood an bone aneurism occured in her upper arm (humerus) (not as uncommon an occurance as you would pray/believe) resulting in decreased bone growth such that her humerus looked like a soda straw (thin outside layer-hollow inside). luckily we were at home-but still now, 15 months later the bills have topped (thankfully covered by insurance) over $80,000.00-and we have twice annual checkups until she reaches the end of puberty. my pediatrician advised me that she had encountered at least 2 inuries of the same sort-only they occured when families were on vacations (one in hawiii with a child 'boogie boarding', one with a child in the sierra's 'snowboarding")-because both were 'out of network, out of state'-the parent sans travel insurance obligated themselves to tens of thosands in 'stop gap' treatment to stabalize the injuries such that they could return their children home in order to be covered/treated by their private med insurance (again-apparantly potential amputation is not life threatening according to most carriers).

so for us apparnt health-and travel insurance are a must in considering any vacation. if nothing else-when we travel to wdw, we reccognize that there are viruses and such that locals may have developed an immunity to and hvae no symptoms that would concern them about interacting with the public-but for us it may be a new strain we've developed no tolerance to and may experience long term issues with.

 

[mickeyfan2]

We did have an experience where my wife and DS(4) were at Fantasmic at MGM and while waiting for the show, the 4 year-old child behind her threw up all over her hair and back. Her parents said NOTHING. Not I'm sorry (I'd be horrified!), no let me help you. They did move over so they wouldn't have their feet in vomit and left that to other people. When I got back to the seat with a cup of water and napkins to help her clean herself up a little bit, I heard one parent tell someone that her poor daughter had been sick for two days since they got to WDW and it was so hard dragging her around the parks because she was sick...

I guess this belongs in the "Shocking" Thread, but OMG!

Finally I found another person who got puked on by a kid behind them at Fantasmic. No I'm sorry, but the dad did clean up my shirt. I stunk and had to get another shirt ASAP before I got sick from the smell. This kid puked after eating cotton candy, hot dogs, pretzels, etc. and then jumpin around.

 

[laceemouse]

I took dd to disney when she had the chicken pox, she had gotten the vacine 2 days before we left and just though it was a reaction... when we returned and talked with the dr she said that it usally doesn't show from the vacine till 2 weeks after and she had the actual chicken pox. I felt awful but what was done was done, i read that if it's a vacine reaction it's not contagous so i wasn't worried, then when the dr told me that i felt awful she was at 2 parks with the spots they were gone by day 3,4,5... she never had a fever or seems uncomfortable at all...

I disagree with your doctor. My youngest had a reaction to the shot which showed up immediately. Our ped said it was very rare but does happen.

 

[mom2taylorandemily]

Finally I found another person who got puked on by a kid behind them at Fantasmic. No I'm sorry, but the dad did clean up my shirt. I stunk and had to get another shirt ASAP before I got sick from the smell. This kid puked after eating cotton candy, hot dogs, pretzels, etc. and then jumpin around.

OMG!!!! I am so sorry that this happened to you. The audacity of some people. You know darn good and well, if one of the adults was that sick, they would have stayed in their room and tried to recover, but NOOOOOOO!!! these idiot adults just drag their poor ill feeling child all over WDW, thus making everyone in their path exposed too!!! I know how I feel when I am sick and all I want to do is stay in bed, I in turn respect my kids feeling in the same regard. If my kids are sick I let them stay in bed, WDW or at home. More people should do the same.

 

[scraptoons]

My DH traveled 18 hours by car, when he was sick with a virus. The virus traveled down into his pancreas and did enough damage for it to stop producing insulin. He was a young 19 year old who wasn't going to let an everyday bug stop him from going on a trip.

The result? Type 1 diabetes. He is in his late 30's now. Lives on an insulin pump with a tiny catheter imbedded into his skin. He will put up with this for the rest of his life. Every little gram of carb has to be counted, every little snack or little short burst of exercise has to be calculated.
Foul up once, he spends a whole day catching up and getting back in control.

If he had only stopped and rested along the way. If he had only found some cheap motel somewhere to lay down in a bed and sleep a few hours.

I've heard of a girl who had a virus travel into her heart. She had to have a heart transplant.

Lesson learned...when you have a virus of some time, it is best to get rest. You never know what will happen. Pushing your body is not smart.