The Nightmare Before Disney...UPDATE Pg. 3

[Feralpeg]

Some friends were here for a visit about two weeks ago. Their son became ill while at Epcot (vomiting). He weighs 80 pounds, so no one could carry him. His dad went and got a stroller so they could get him from World Showcase back to the entrance. The next day, he was better but still not up to par. They rented a stroller for that day as well. Rent the stroller. You'll be glad you did.

 

[Tiger926]

bethbuchall - RE: virus incubation period

We had our physicals 8 days before our trip. Went back to our doctor day before for final check and test results - all clear. We didn't get sick until day 6 of our trip, plus our doctor (family friend) was our doctor in Disney World as well, as he and his family were vacationing with us at the same time. Therefore he was pretty positive that we caught viruses there on vacation as he knew how healthy we were upon leaving.

Again, I hope this thread helps others see that the reason so many people get sick on vacation is because no one takes proper precautions for taking care of themselves because they don't want to lose money or change plans. As a new parent I know how frustrating it is to plan stuff and have to cancel (my daughter has been sick with cold, flu, bronchitis for the past 4 holidays! - we stay home and don't put anyone else at risk) events, especially vacations. This is something that is always going to frustrate me as I have cancelled lots of events in my life (including vacations) since I or my daughter have been sick - it has cost money and made family members sad that we have missed important family functions, but so be it.

I guess this is an issue where a lot of us are going to disagree, but I honestly feel that it's one that needs to be looked at in a sensible manner and not an emotional one.

Tiger

 

[peacefulgirl]

All I can say is we were at Disney for 10 days (got home Jan 7th) and the day after we got home, DD became sick with that virus thing, it lasted 8 days and she ran a fever for the whole 8 days. No infections found on 2 DR's visits, so it was viral, but DR thought mono when she wasn't improving. Dont know if she caught it on the plane or at WDW, but she sure got it in one of those places. She hasn't been to school since b4 xmas, but part of our vacation was during that time off, she missed 1 day of school for WDW and 5 days from being sick.

I couldn't imagine her enjoying WDW during that sickness, she was sooo sick I cant even think of trying to imagine her in a park. I was getting scared when the fever wouldn't break, so I know I would of freaked if she wasn't home when she was sick.

I ran into 3 people that were out and about knowing they were sick during my time at WDW,
1. on the plane to WDW, a mother was saying to another passenger that her DD next to her threw up that morning and she was shocked she was ok so far. She said they left a place were 3 people had the flu.
(ok, I am on the plane holding my breath !!!)

2. at MGM, a family is getting out of their car, a lady is swaking, "I'm the one who is sick here, diarah and throwing up, stop bothering me, ect...."
(Great, she is going to MGM now, just great)

3. In line at Epcot, the girl in front of us is clearly ill, she has tissue to her nose, its RED as anything, she sounds horrible, looks horrible and it plain SICK! (We ran and washed our hands right after that ride)

So if I saw these sick cases, and I am sure as heck didn't all the sick people around me, can you imagine how many there were in my 10 day trip! It a miracle we made it through ! Glad it wasn't mono !

I just can't see being sick in WDW, that would be sooo NOT fun. We were lucky ! WHEW !

 

[jjarman]

Brunoflipper -

I don't think the antibiotics will help whatever the primary virus is. I think it might help it not morph into something else. I know he is most likely contagious as long as he is febrile. I am sincerely hoping his fever breaks while he sleeps.

Also, just because it is not strep doesn't mean it is not some other type of bacterial infection.

 

[jjarman]

You really never know how long the incubation period is on whatever you or your child may have. It could very well be that by the time you are showing symptoms you are no longer contagious. I am sure most viruses have an incubation period that begins long before the symptoms. Just look at chickenpox for instance. I can’t spend my time worrying about whether we may or may not be contagious before we go on a trip. And if we are feeling up to it when the time comes if we are sick we will be at Disneyworld. I have planned too long to stay home just because we may or may not be sick or may or may not be contagious.

 

[edk35]

This is my biggest fear right now. I have three kids and they have all been sick with stuff the past couple of weeks and my youngest had ear infections and I WILL BE SO WORRIED THIS NEXT WEEK TOO. (((((HUGS))))

 

[Tiger926]

jjarman: "I have planned too long to stay home just because we may or may not be sick or may or may not be contagious."

Yikes! That is exactly why the rest of us get sick! It's terrible that some people feel that their time and money is more important than their child's health or the health of me and my child.

Tiger

 

[232271]

I agree how many of our kids end up sick because the parents send them to school with a low grade fever doped up on tylenol and spread the virus to the healthy?? I know many of my friends do!!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Our district guidelines say the kids can be at school as long as their temp is not over 100.4. When DS got home Monday he wasn't running a fever at all, so I didn't know what to think. When I took him to school Monday morning he said he felt OK - he said his throat was sore when he first woke up, but after breakfast he felt better. He is no stranger to the nurse's office - he would have asked her to call me if he felt sick during the day.

Yes, we still probably would have flown if he was feeling bad Wednesday. I don't know about going to the parks. I wouldn't be able to make that call unless I was actually in that situation. Luckily I didn't have to make that decision because he was fine when he woke up Wednesday morning.

I can see all the sides of this argument. DS was sick 17 days last year. I am SURE some of that was due to parents sending sick kids to school. 4 of the days he missed were due to chicken pox that he broke out with on Easter Sunday. He was vaccinated, but he got them anyway! And out of 900 kids at his school he was the only one who had them. The only explanation I can come up with is that he caught them at Chuck E. Cheese over Spring Break because the incubation was right.

If I had cancelled our trip this time it would have been for nothing because he was fine by the time we left. It is a really hard choice, and I think it is really each family's personal decision. I don't think sick kids should be pushed to do things they aren't up to, but sometimes you just don't know what the lesser of the evils would be. I wouldn't have dragged DS around WDW if he felt sick once we were there, but if he had a fever and felt fine I don't know that we wouldn't have gone out for awhile. Like I said, good thing I didn't have to make that choice!

I hope everyone has healthy little ones before, during, and after their trips! It is definitely unwelcome stress!

 

[232271]

we live near you in Carrollton ,Tx and we get sent home for 99 or above,
ours rule is NO fever at all. yes, if they are just feeling bad no fever and a fever develops at shcool I totally understand. But my friends knows her kid
is sick and sends him anyway, isolated case i know.

by the way, my 3 nieces got the chicken pox after their vaccanations, too.
the doctor said they actually got it from the vaccanation, there are a small number of kids who do, since you are given a small dose of CP in the vac.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

DS was vaccinated when he was 15 mos. old - got the pox last April when he was 8, so not a vaccine reaction!

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

I wouldn't take a sick child on a trip. Too hard to care for away from home, they aren't as comfortable away from home, they could get seriously ill rather than minor illness without enough rest.
Plus i'd be a nervous wreck waiting to see if they were getting better or worse!
Not the way i want to spend my vacation.

 

[peacefulgirl]

I wouldn't take a sick child on a trip. Too hard to care for away from home, they aren't as comfortable away from home, they could get seriously ill rather than minor illness without enough rest.
Plus i'd be a nervous wreck waiting to see if they were getting better or worse!
Not the way i want to spend my vacation.

Thats what I was trying to say ... DD was so ill, she couldn't get comfortable too much even at home, I would of hated to be in a hotel room with her, just being HOME when sick is so comforting. Plus, I was a step from the emergency room, so being home... whew!

I know we can't keep ourselves behind doors, but keeping sick kids home as much as we can and WASHING our hands ... is a good start.