My three-year-old and my 12 months old are NOT sick (yet). Last night (sat.) I came down with a stomach bug (sour stomach, abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and vomiting). 12 hours latter I feel fine. It was mostly lower G.I..(it can't have been food poisoning because my husband and I ate the same food all day) Here's the rub; me and my two young children are to board a plane tomorrow morning (Mon). Obviously we will scrap the plan with the first sign of illness even if we are checked into our flight. I'm going to pack and proceed as planned, but cannot help imagine what me, my kids and the poor people on the plane will go through if they become symptomatic in flight! Its a total of 3 hours flying, a transfer and two hour lay over, and an hour car ride from airport for about 7 hours of traveling. My parents are picking us up. What would you do?
No easy answer here. I do suggest, in order to not pay a penalty, that if you postpone you will need a doctor's letter stating that you can't fly because of illness.
If it's no problem, I'd delay it for a day. If they aren't sick, then you probably had food poisoning. The main thing that comes to mind (besides it being a crazy flight for you!) is that if you are sick, bugs like that are SO contagious and you'd easily be passing it along to a lot of the passengers. I would personally be REALLY irked if I was on that flight and all my kids got sick because of it. So, for the sake of the passengers, I would suggest to not go until you give it a little time to make sure your kids won't be getting sick. Odds are they should get it in the next day at the longest. Otherwise it's food poisoning! Glad you feel better.
can you delay the trip?....not only do you have to worry about your kids getting it, but also spreading it to others.
on the other hand, you may be an isolated event.
tough call...
When these symptoms come and go in 12 hours it is most likely food poisoning. Food poisoning can sometimes take several days to hit from the time you ate the food in question.
From the Mayo Clinic website: "Signs and symptoms may start within hours after eating the contaminated food, or they may begin days or possibly even weeks later. Sickness caused by food poisoning generally lasts from one to 10 days."
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-poisoning/DS00981
I would be prepared, but I would go on the trip unless anyone is sick before you leave, as you've said.
Food poisoning can occur from the same meal.It only takes a single bit of bad food. For instance, a piece of bread can have it in just a tiny grain. So, that is still a possibility. From my experience, if they don't have it by tonight then you are all most likely in the clear.
I also agree with what Joanna and Patty said.
I think you'll know soon enough to decide what to do. I'd go ahead and go. If you didn't have a fever and it ran it's course that quick, the kids will probably not get whatever you had.
Good luck and have a good trip!
What happened Jane?
You could persevere and keep a bag of tricks or postpone a week, if possible. Keep Tylenol, anti-diarhea, pedialyte and plenty of wipes, diapers and barf bags if you go. I would probably go and think positive.
That kind of stuff usually hits fast though. Like 24 hours..... so if they get it you have hope that you will know by tonight.
If it was mandatory that you go, there's really nothing you can do except try to make them comfortable. But, if they were showing symptoms already AND you don't absolutely have to make the flight, I would wait till they were feeling better and then go. It's gonna have to be a waiting game. So sorry I can't be of more help!
I would still be planning on it. Obviously if puking starts between now and then you might need a plan B! But, hopefully it will be fine. I also agree that you'll probably see signs of illness tonight if they get it. I would however make sure you carry-on a complete change of clothes for each kid, and maybe yourself, (and extra diapers if you have a diaper wearer) to take on the plane just in case someone gets sick.
If you feel strongly about it being a stomach bug, I would not go. It isn't fair to the other passengers for you to expose them. And, what if there is an immunocompromised passenger on flight, not okay. For the sake of trying to make my point...what if everyone on the flight were exposed to a stomach bug and started vomiting, etc. inflight, wouldn't that be a drag ;) I know it's an extreme example, but this is how those nasty bugs spread so quickly! I hope it was just a fluke and everyone stays healthy!
Don't take anti-diarrhea medication when you are ill like the person suggested. Ride it out with extra fluids (water and Pedialyte), diapers, wipes, emesis bags, and clothing. I say prepare to go. There is a chance your kids won't catch what you had especially if you washed your hands often. Symptoms of the stomach bug presents 12-48 hrs after exposure. If your kids do get sick then keep them hydrated, when the vomiting stops go for the BRAT diet- banana, rice, apple sauce, and toast- until the other symptoms resolve.
