Would you take chickenpox recoverer on plane?

[Anonymous]

My son has chickenpox. He was vaccinated so the case is mild (about 50-60 bumps). He broke out in the rash on Saturday and was diagnosed today.

Doctor thinks he won’t be contagious on Friday and will take him back to the doctor then to get a final ruling on if he’s contagious or not. That night we have a flight to Georgia planned for a wedding.

If the doctor says he doesn’t think he’s still contagious, would you let him fly? It will be 6 days after the bumps appeared.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t take him on a plane or around people that soon.

[Anonymous]

50-60 seems more than mild to me!

No I wouldn't, I doubt the bumps will be healed enough to fly by then (at least from what I know about the contagious stages of pox) and it would be easier to change your plans now.

[Anonymous]

No. Do not take him to a wedding with chicken pox! Geez!! One parent stays home and the other goes to wedding.

[Anonymous]

No. Do not even attempt this. At 6 days the dr cannot say definitively he isn’t contagious. If there is even the small chance of possible transmission (which there is) stay home. There are always old people and babies on airplanes- too risky for those extra vulnerable

[Anonymous]

No, you can infect a lot of people. The vaccine is not 100% and older folks may not have had it. The would be selfish.

[Anonymous]

My mom did. Then I got chickenpox from my brother on the plane and had to fly home like that and probably infected a lot of people on our 12 hr flight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. Do not even attempt this. At 6 days the dr cannot say definitively he isn’t contagious. If there is even the small chance of possible transmission (which there is) stay home. There are always old people and babies on airplanes- too risky for those extra vulnerable

If all the lesions were scabbed over and/or there is 24 hours without new non-scabbing lesions (vaccinated), the child would be considered non-contagious. This is why you can't just go by dates -- a physical exam is necessary.

Communicability

The period of communicability extends from 1 to 2 days before the onset of rash until lesions have formed crusts. Vaccinated persons with varicella may develop lesions that do not crust (macules and papules only). Isolation guidance for these persons is to exclude until no new lesions appear within a 24-hour period.

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/varicella.html#features

[Anonymous]

I caught chicken pox when i was 30. We traced it back to a little girl on the train from Stockholm to Oslo. This was long before the vaccine. I was miserable. It’s probably not a good idea to take him on a plane so soon.

[Anonymous]

I was on a flight earlier this summer where a passenger was made to leave because of a medical issue. Don't put your son through the stress of being kicked off the plane. It could be traumatic for anyone especially a child. (Also, please don't expose all of those other people! and make the poor kid travel w/ the discomfort of chicken pox.) Get a doctor's letter explaining the situation and send it to airline. You might be able to salvage some of the ticket $.

[Anonymous]

No. Dangerous for seniors and dangerous for babies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I caught chicken pox when i was 30. We traced it back to a little girl on the train from Stockholm to Oslo. This was long before the vaccine. I was miserable. It’s probably not a good idea to take him on a plane so soon.

Ummm. It’s also a terrible idea to take him to a wedding!

What if he gets the bride or groom sick? Or their families? It’ll be obvious it was from you and you will have ruined their wedding or honeymoon. Don’t do it.

[Anonymous]

What?! No. He needs to be at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. Dangerous for seniors and dangerous for babies.

+1 And people like my husband who are fighting cancer.

[Anonymous]

How is this even a question? Babies can have serious complications from this, and kids under 5 aren’t fully immunized.

Plus, your child will be quite obviously diseased and people will treat him like a leper. He will be very itchy and uncomfortable. He needs to be at home in a colloidal oatmeal bath, not on a flight.