Chickenpox & flying/insurance

[missspeedy23]

Wasn't sure whether to post in health, travel or insurance so posting in all 3!

Chickenpox has been doing its rounds at my sons nursery and currently there's 4 children off with it. I've seen a couple of suspicious looking spots on him but the problem is we're due to go on holiday on Friday and just need some advice really. I know you can't fly until all the spots have crusted over and wouldn't particularly want to put someone else at risk by trying to disguise them but I'm not sure where we stand with our insurance.

We're travelling with my parents (who paid for the holiday) and we've got our own travel insurance that has cancellation cover. However, we don't really want to cancel but as we've booked everything separately and not a package is it possible to reschedule the flights/villa/transfers etc etc? Would the insurance cover the difference between the two dates as we'd not be able to go until August now and this will obviously be more expensive - although not as much as what they'd have to pay out for cancellation.

Has anyone else been in this situation? I just don't know what to do... we could try and fly on Friday but our insurance says we're not covered if our airline refuses to carry us for any reason - which I'm assuming this would class as if they refused to board us.

I'm absolutely gutted as we've been looking forward to it since we booked it in December ;(

[tigwig]

Do you know how long your son has been exposed to the other children with it? It takes between 10 and 21 days to come out in spots after catching it so you may be ok unless of course he has caught it at the same time then it could be any day! My baby had it and the 2 toddlers I childmind for came out in spots after 16 and 18 days. Anyway if I'm completely honest (and alot might not agree) I would try my utmost to hide any spots he may have and go. Unless its at the stage where he is covered you will hopefully get away with it. I know it can be dangerous to vunerable people etc to catch it but he could be infectious without you knowing anyway, you cant put your life on hold.

[missspeedy23]

The first case was about 5 weeks ago, then there was another case around 3 weeks ago which was the brother of the first one. A friend of ours son came out in them last week, which is again 2 weeks and so did 2 others who had been in contact with the brother. Another one has come out with them today (suspected not confirmed) so I would guess they'll be due out any time now. The only thing I can think of is to wait until Thursday - if there are any I'll probably go to the docs and get a letter to say he either can or can't fly but don't want to risk leaving it until the Friday as we fly early (7am) and don't want to risk our insurance not paying out.

I might be panicking over nothing but I can see a few spots on his hand now but they look a bit like heat lumps at the minute. I'm assuming if it is they'll be out in the morning?

I just want to cry!

[twix123]

I wouldn't delay seeing your GP for confirmation. If it is chicken pox, think of the other people in both the airport and the plane, it is a serious illness for pregnant women to be in contact with and can lead to shingles in adults. Being an airborne disease, coughing or sneezing can easily pass it on to others.

Normally travel insurance will pay out for cancellation, less any excesses which will be deducted in respect of each passenger and under each section of the policy claims are made. They wouldn't normally pay out for the difference between the original booking and any re-arrangements made, although you need to read the policy document to confirm that is the case. Furthermore, if you only have Single Trip insurance, I believe that you will probably need to purchase a new policy for the re-arranged holiday should you claim on the old policy.

[tigwig]

The spots are very unlikely to start on the hands. They will probably be on the tummy first. The odd red spot, then they will spread over a few days (or hours in bad cases). Some children only get 4 or 5 though. Also you wont be able to get it confirmed until they blister which is at least 24 hrs after first spots come out so you wont really know for definite until you are there (if you still choose to go). Good luck!