My DH is taking our 13 yo DD back to the UK with him tomorrow to visit his folks. It's an 8 hour flight, plus the two hours at the airport this end and the car pick-up and drive at the other end (another 2-3 hrs).
They've been looking forward to this for months. The problem is that she is quite sick. She has a nasty cough and a fever. I'm pretty sure it's viral, so I can't see any point in taking her to see the Dr. I don't usually ask for anti-biotics anyway, because I think they're over-prescribed and don't work on many illnesses.
I have been giving her ibuprofen which does work to bring down the fever - she's not raging hot, just enough to make her really miserable (I did mention that she's 13, didn't I? 
) This morning she's been saying she doesn't know if she'll be able to go tomorrow, which would be really upsetting for everyone, especially my 86-yo in-laws who haven't seen my kids for 2 years.
Does anyone have any suggestions for magic OTC medications which will make her well enough to travel tomorrow? She can recover properly once she's there.
Sorry this is so long, and thanks for reading.
Please don't take this the wrong way, but she really shouldn't be getting on a plane if she is that ill- especially if she has a nasty cough- respiratory problems can be worsened by the cabin pressure of the plane, plus the fact that if she is coughing, she could spread her illness to the other passengers who have to breathe the same air. I know it would disappoint your family not to see her, but that will make for a very long and miserable day for her, and may hamper her getting better- what if she would get really ill while in flight?? Just my thoughts, I really don't know what OTC meds other then Mucinex that may help, but not enough to get her well enough to travel tomorrow. Good Luck!!
As a Nurse I agree with the above post.
Consider the other 100 some passengers on the plane that have someone coughing on them all trip. It will make EVERYONE uncomfortable!
I WOULDN'T DO IT!
Go to the MD and get a letter to get your tickets refunded.
I got sick like that once, was selfish and went anyway. I ended up giving the norovirus to my 4 yr old, my 2 yr old who almost had to be hospitalized due to dehydration, my parents, hubby's parents, hubby's brother, SIL, and kids, and his aunt and uncle, as well as my elderly grandparents. Christmas was ruined that year, thanks to me.
It sounds like your daughter doesn't feel well enough to go, contagiousness aside. How much worse will she feel after a 15 hour day of traveling and the time difference?
I would take her to the doc and plan another trip.
Have to agree, do NOT put her on that plane. They might actually take a look at her and refuse to let her on the plane anyway, with all the swine flu hysteria and viruses spreading via air travel.
The issue of spreading germs aside, being on an airplane with dry air recirculating for that long will only make her worse.
And do you want to be responsible, or have her feel responsible, for giving a virus to an 86-yr-old? When my kids even have a runny nose I don't let them go around my elderly inlaws. God forbid they should catch whatever the kids have and die from it! My grandfather died from a heart attack after a bout of bronchitis, so viruses can weaken elderly people enough that they can get severely ill at the least, and something bad could happen at the worst. Don't put her on that plane!
I just want to say that I'm really sorry for the situation. If it were me, I'd probably take her to the doctor today to see what they have to say. I've been in similar situations before and it's impossible to come up with a satisfactory solution. I'm so sorry.
As someone who just traveled cross country last week on a plane, I say don't do it. With all the media attention on the swine flu, etc, I was super paranoid any time I heard someone cough. I can't imagine listening to someone cough during the entire flight. Who wants to spread whatever she has to a plane full of people! See if you can get a letter from the dr, and reschedule the trip.
I would be too Mensch! I'm bad enough when it comes to germs around my 3 year old , let alone be stuck on a plane with someone who is knowingly that sick, especially with a fever! Keep her home n reschedule, that's what I would do...
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