Can Chickenpox fly?

Chickenpox is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV). It is characterised by an itchy skin rash with red spots and fluid-filled blisters, which eventually scab over. The illness often starts with flu-like symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, and headache, followed by the appearance of the rash.

Chickenpox is most common in children, but it can also affect adults, and its symptoms tend to be more severe in adults. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus remains dormant in their body and can reactivate later in life, causing shingles (herpes zoster).

If you or someone you know has chickenpox, flying might not be recommended due to the highly contagious nature of the virus. Here are some key points to consider:

1. Contagious Period: Chickenpox is most contagious from 1-2 days before the rash appears until all the blisters have crusted over, which usually takes about 5-7 days. During this time, the risk of spreading the virus to others is high.

2. Airline Policies: Most airlines have strict policies about flying with chickenpox. They may require a medical certificate confirming that the person is no longer contagious. It's essential to check with the airline in advance about their specific requirements.

3. Risk to Other Passengers: People with chickenpox can spread the virus through airborne droplets (from coughing or sneezing) and by direct contact with the rash. It's especially risky for pregnant women, newborns, and people with weakened immune systems.

4. Travel Insurance: If you have chickenpox and cannot travel, having travel insurance that covers medical conditions might help cover the costs of rebooking flights or other travel arrangements.

We recommend you consult with a healthcare professional at DrNote for a note to cover your journey for your airline and if it is safe to travel after having chickenpox. Generally, flying should be avoided until all blisters have dried and crusted over.

Am I fit or unfit to fly?

Why do I need a letter to travel? People often pay for "fit to fly" letters because they serve as a medical certificate confirming that an individual is healthy and fit to travel. These letters are required in certain situations, such as:

Airline or Destination Requirements: Some airlines or countries have strict health guidelines and may require a fit to fly letter, especially if the traveller has a medical condition, is pregnant, or has recently recovered from an illness. The letter acts as proof that the individual is not a risk to themselves or others during the flight.

Insurance Purposes: In case of a medical emergency during travel, having a fit to fly letter can be useful for insurance claims. It shows that a healthcare professional deemed the individual fit to travel, which might prevent disputes with insurance providers.

COVID-19 or Other Contagious Illnesses: During the COVID-19 pandemic and other health crises, some countries and airlines required proof that passengers were not contagious. Even as the pandemic has subsided, certain destinations may still require a fit to fly certificate to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Minimising Travel Disruptions: A fit to fly letter can help travellers avoid delays or being denied boarding due to concerns about their health. It reassures airline staff that the passenger has been medically cleared to travel.

Professional Assurance: Paying for a letter from a registered healthcare professional provides an official and credible document. It carries more weight than a self-assessment or a non-certified note, which is crucial when dealing with authorities, airlines, or border control.

Although the fit to fly letter comes at a cost, people pay for it to ensure they meet travel requirements and avoid complications that could disrupt their journey. DrNote offers a seamless and swift service to take care of this all.

Sick or Fit notes?

Welcome to a series of blogs that have been created by our medical team. We hope you find them useful.

Sick notes, doctors are now supposed to call them "fit notes", but as a patient requires them usually when "sick", they are still colloquially known as "sick notes". How confusing; a bit like navigating medical healthcare, as a doctor it seemed outwardly quite simple, book an appointment and then see the health care professional and get the outcome you hoped or that the professional thought was best for you. Right? Well, not quite.

Now, as a patient, I have found myself baffled by the process of NHS healthcare. I'm not blaming the professionals or admin team that are running the service, it's just in my opinion, the NHS is such a huge, unwieldy vessel, that efficiency and service have, despite best intentions, been left far behind as a distant memory. I am sadly not blessed with the answers, but despite whatever your beliefs about the NHS, it is clear that the system needs support, and by using services like DrNote to facilitate this, can only be of help.

The system of General Practice in the NHS is utterly overwhelmed, as of November 2023, NHS General Practice got paid £164.64 per year per registered patient, about 45 pence per person per day! There's not a whole lot you can do for that in the real world. This is not a political posting, but merely a thought provoking page, and whilst clearly there are folk out there who cannot afford to pay for a private service, in my mind it seems that those who can afford to use a private service may feel that it enables them to both help themselves, and help the wider NHS and public by removing pressures from a bursting-at-the-seams NHS.