N213: Health Differences Across the Life Span 3

N213: Health Differences Across the Lifespan 3 Study Guide Nursing interventions for rubella: • Offer antipyretics for fever; instruct no aspirin products with virus in children • Encourage rest • Perform skin assessments and provide skin care to reduce scratching • Encourage increased fluids • Provide ice chips and popsicles for throat pain • Encourage a soft diet and small, frequent meals • Give thorough patient and parent teaching on immunizations • Instruct to isolate patient from pregnant woman andnewborns Expected outcomes for rubella: • Relief of fever, throat pain, and fatigue • Demonstrates adequate nutritional intake • No manifestations of skin breakdown due to rash • Verbalizes understanding of immunizations Varicella (Chicken Pox/Shingles) Varicella is a type of herpes virus that is caused by varicella zoster. In young children and adults, it causes chicken pox and in older adults who have had chicken pox, it can reestablish itself as shingles. The herpes zoster virus is highly contagious and infects unimmunized children or children who have not had chicken pox. The virus causes inflammation near the dorsal root ganglia and causes severe nerve pain. This usually occurs along the rib cage in the trunk and shoulder area. Chicken pox (varicella) is common in the late winter months from January to May. Once exposed, incubation is 11 to 21 days for the prodromal stage. After the infection begins, the symptoms last approximately five to seven days. It most commonly occurs in children ages two through nine, but can occur as late as the teen years or rarely in adulthood. If an adult has a history of chicken pox, the dormant virus can manifest itself again with exposure. In recent years, varivax, the immunization for varicella, has become required in school age children and needs to be given at 12 to 18 months of age. The vaccine is effective at one dose if given between 19 months of age all the way up to 13 years of age. It is highly recommended for at risk individuals with compromised immune systems. There is also a varicella immunoglobulin for individuals that are at risk and have been exposed to the virus. Signs and symptoms of varicella/chicken pox: • Low-grade fever • Pruritis • Rash • Fatigue • Itching • Loss of appetite (anorexia) ©2017 Achieve Test Prep Page 21 of 204