Flying on American Airlines while having a rare genetic skin condition

[DevilsAdvocate]

Doesn't American Airlines use MedLink or some other similar service to make these types of decisions?

 

[Delphic Oracle]

Gun collectors/owners are "Certain kinds of passangers" that we have special rules for in regards to flights.

We actually have lots of "special" types of passangers, why are carriers of disease suddenly different?

Is a gun a condition that one is born with? Or otherwise afflicted with in a manner entirely outside of one's control? Is it not possible to remove a gun no matter how many specialists are visited?

Then we're talking about not even remotely the same thing.

ETA: I'm talking about a condition, not a disease. I notice that despite repeated efforts to steer that out of the conversation, it keeps leaping back in.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

The airline should give her a free (one way) ticket to Molokai.

They closed that colony down when antibiotics for Hansen's Disease were successful. But it's my understanding some long term residents still live there.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

And it even makes sense, if you ignore getting a doctors note, which would be written by a medical professional, taking the judgement out of the hands of the staff.

So then, everyone on every flight should also have a doctor's note.

What if they look sweaty?

Maybe everyone who looks Middle Eastern should have a state department note?

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Doctors note takes care of it without making staff make a diagnosis.

Really simple way to word it in the employee handbook

"In any case where there is question as to a customers ability to fly in a manner that is medically safe for all passangers and staff, the opinion of a licensed medical professional in the country in which the issue takes place will be required as staff are not trained to diagnose any disease. "

Actually that would be a piss-poor policy.

And in this case, the woman had a diagnosis.

I've written these policies, BTW. It's more systematic than "anyone with icky skin". It ain't hard and TBH, sometimes the doctors are worse at it than infection control nurses. I have stories.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

Gun collectors/owners are "Certain kinds of passangers" that we have special rules for in regards to flights.

We actually have lots of "special" types of passangers, why are carriers of disease suddenly different?

Did they pull out the policy book that said 'flaky rash' be careful of those guys?

 

[bruto]

Yeah if only there was some sort of "Make a judgement call when the person has obvious exterior physical symptoms and no paper work to back anything up" middle ground we could land at.

Obvious exterior physical symptoms of what? I have yet to see an informed opinion that the symptoms shown were anything but those of the non contagious condition that actually existed. "Ooh that looks nasty" is a pretty poor criterion.

 

[quadraginta]

Someone with a skin condition or smallpox?

Very unlikely to be smallpox, given that it no longer exists at large.

True. Plenty of other poxes left. Also measles.

Yes. I'm saying Nazi SS Storm Troopers should force Tiny Tim off of the airplane on Christmas Eve.

Nonsense. The SS didn't have storm troopers. Those were in WWI.

Maybe not the SS, but the Nazis quite proudly called the brownshirts their Sturmabteilung.

 

[Belz...]

I notice that most people arguing in favour of the airline staff's actions are ignoring a fairly critical point that was brought up earlier, many readily communicable diseases are contagious for several days before symptoms manifest, or may manifest mild symptoms for days longer, and are easily mistaken for a cold or allergies during that time.

I don't find this argument very convincing, however. Yes, many diseases are contagious and show no symptom during that window of time. But many show visible signs during that time, and the former is no reason to ignore the latter.

Not that I agree with the airline's decision. Just addressing your specific argument.

 

[Belz...]

In fact, any passenger who isn't constantly performing Olympic-level gymnastic routines flawlessly is probably too ill to fly.

And those who do are probably mentally ill anyway. I mean, who does that on a plane? Weirdos.

 

[Belz...]

Halfway into the flight, that passenger's rash has grown much, much worse, they have developed a fever, and they are coughing and sneezing. The passengers either side of her and in the row directly in front are all starting to show signs of a rash.

By the time the flight is almost at its destination, the original passenger is now coughing blood, and the nearby passengers are all falling more seriously ill. Other passengers are showing signs of a rash.

What is that, the Andromeda strain?

How do you feel about this now?

I'd check if the passengers that are sick ate steak or fish.

 

[Belz...]

Add a couple days for cultures to come back.

Well, you can use the extra time for a few more tests. I'm sure they won't mind. You know, for safety's sake.

 

[luchog]

What is that, the Andromeda strain?

Seriously. As has already been pointed out any disease that progresses that fast and is that contagious (none that I'm aware of, these things take days) has already infected everyone on the way to the plane -- the other passengers in the airport, the screeners at the gate, the terminal check-in staff, other airline staff, and so on. By the time the person gets on the plane, everyone has already been exposed to Captain Trips.

I'd check if the passengers that are sick ate steak or fish.

And if any of them have a drinking problem.

 

[TurkeysGhost]

Seriously. As has already been pointed out any disease that progresses that fast and is that contagious (none that I'm aware of, these things take days) has already infected everyone on the way to the plane -- the other passengers in the airport, the screeners at the gate, the terminal check-in staff, other airline staff, and so on. By the time the person gets on the plane, everyone has already been exposed to Captain Trips.




And if any of them have a drinking problem.

Also, it's a domestic flight. We are already screwed if people within the country have black death 2.0.

Domestic flights are just buses that fly. You get jammed into a tube with a bunch of strangers far too close for comfort. Everyone should expect a fairly high level of general filth and accept it. I consider myself lucky anytime there aren't any visible liquid residues on or around my seat.

 

[luchog]

Also, it's a domestic flight. We are already screwed if people within the country have black death 2.0.

Domestic flights are just buses that fly. You get jammed into a tube with a bunch of strangers far too close for comfort. Everyone should expect a fairly high level of general filth and accept it. I consider myself lucky anytime there aren't any visible liquid residues on or around my seat.

And I see plenty of sick people on buses, including one who was hacking and coughing like he had TB. Of course, he did get kicked off by the driver, but only after he started gobbing on the floor. I'd be willing to bet that buses rival planes for domestic disease transmission. I generally try to avoid touching anything on a bus I don't absolutely have to.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

I don't find this argument very convincing, however. Yes, many diseases are contagious and show no symptom during that window of time. But many show visible signs during that time, and the former is no reason to ignore the latter.
Not that I agree with the airline's decision. Just addressing your specific argument.

Obviously, but in this case the thing the staff saw, "a rash", wasn't a sign of contagiousness.

Psoriasis is not contagious. Pemphigus looks frightening, but it isn't contagious. There is a long list.

 

[Belz...]

Obviously, but in this case the thing the staff saw, "a rash", wasn't a sign of contagiousness.

Psoriasis is not contagious. Pemphigus looks frightening, but it isn't contagious. There is a long list.

No disagreement there. I was only addressing a specific argument.

 

[Vixen]

Actually those are three different classes of diseases. Psoriasis and eczema might be treated the same. I didn't see anywhere that suppressing the immune response was recommended for ichthyosis but I could have missed it. A genetic protein abnormality is different from the immune system over-reacting. On the other hand, maybe the immune system is involved attacking the abnormal protein?

I think they go hand in hand:

Ichthyosis vulgaris
Ichthyosis vulgaris is the most common type of inherited ichthyosis, affecting 1 in 250-1,000 people. Signs and symptoms include:

skin may appear normal at birth
skin gradually becomes dry, rough and scaly, usually before the age of one
the face and the bends of the elbows and knees aren't usually affected
limbs may develop fine light-grey scales
the skin on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet may have more lines than normal and be thickened
the child often also has eczemasymptoms are often worse when it's cold and dry and improve in warm, humid conditions – this means they may be more noticeable in the winter than the summer

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ichthyosis/

Treatment:

Treating ichthyosis
There's no cure for ichthyosis, but moisturising and exfoliating the skin daily can help prevent dryness, scaling and the build-up of skin cells.

Skincare
Your skin specialist (dermatologist) will be able to prescribe or recommend suitable moisturising treatments (emollients), which may be in the form of a cream, ointment, lotion or bath oil.

ibid

Psoriasis:

Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales.

These patches normally appear on your elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, but can appear anywhere on your body. Most people are only affected with small patches. In some cases, the patches can be itchy or sore.

Psoriasis affects around 2% of people in the UK. It can start at any age but most often develops in adults under 35 years old, and affects men and women equally.

Treatment:

Treating psoriasis
There's no cure for psoriasis, but a range of treatments can improve symptoms and the appearance of skin patches.

In most cases, the first treatment used will be a topical treatment, such as vitamin D analogues or topical corticosteroids. Topical treatments are creams and ointments applied to the skin.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/psoriasis/

corticosteroids= aka Betnovate - used to treat eczema.

 

[Vixen]

True. Plenty of other poxes left. Also measles.




Maybe not the SS, but the Nazis quite proudly called the brownshirts their Sturmabteilung.

Dry skin conditions have zero to do with spots.

If you see a baby or a young child with a rash, together with flaky skin and scaling, I promise you it is one of the exceedingly common childhood conditions.

Leave the poor kid alone to scratch on his itch to his heart's content.

 

[Dr. Keith]

And if any of them have a drinking problem.

Surely you can't be serious?