“Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), chickenpox used to be a common illness among kids under the age of 12 (The Nemours Foundation, 2014).” An itchy rash of macules, papules, vesicles, pustules, and scabs appears with chickenpox, all stages are present on the body at the same time. “The incubation period is the time between the invasion by the pathogen and the onset of clinical manifestations, the incubation period for chickenpox is 2-3 weeks (Leifer, 2011).” An infected individual is contagious 1 to 2 days before the blisters appear on the body and they are contagious until the blisters are completely crusted over. Chickenpox can be spread to others through air (droplet precautions), and by direct contact with bodily
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“All children suspected of having a communicable disease who are admitted to the hospital are placed on both standard and transmission-based precautions until a definite diagnosis is established (Leifer, 2011).” The nurse should understand the importance of using proper personal protective equipment and health teach the family how to use proper protective equipment when dealing with a contagious patient. Standard precautions must be used on all patients in the hospital, nurses use hand hygiene and disposables gloves to protect themselves. Transmission-based precautions are different according to the method of spread of infection, such as airborne, contact, or droplet isolation precautions. Airborne infection isolation precautions are used for patients with chickenpox. “Small airborne particles floating in the air can be inhaled at any place in the room, that’s why the use of negative-pressure rooms and respirator masks (N95 particulate masks) are required upon entering the room and then respirator masks are removed upon exiting the room (Leifer, 2011).” The nurse must perform proper hand hygiene at “Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene (Government of Ontario, 2006).” Health teaching children and their families to wash their hands after using the toilet, blowing their noses, sneezing, coughing, or touching contaminated objects is important to reduce the spread of infection in the household. “Making hand hygiene fun for children can motivate them to wash appropriately for a minimum of 15 seconds (Leifer,
“All children suspected of having a communicable disease who are admitted to the hospital are placed on both standard and transmission-based precautions until a definite diagnosis is established (Leifer, 2011).” The nurse should understand the importance of using proper personal protective equipment and health teach the family how to use proper protective equipment when dealing with a contagious patient. Standard precautions must be used on all patients in the hospital, nurses use hand hygiene and disposables gloves to protect themselves. Transmission-based precautions are different according to the method of spread of infection, such as airborne, contact, or droplet isolation precautions. Airborne infection isolation precautions are used for patients with chickenpox. “Small airborne particles floating in the air can be inhaled at any place in the room, that’s why the use of negative-pressure rooms and respirator masks (N95 particulate masks) are required upon entering the room and then respirator masks are removed upon exiting the room (Leifer, 2011).” The nurse must perform proper hand hygiene at “Your 4 Moments for Hand Hygiene (Government of Ontario, 2006).” Health teaching children and their families to wash their hands after using the toilet, blowing their noses, sneezing, coughing, or touching contaminated objects is important to reduce the spread of infection in the household. “Making hand hygiene fun for children can motivate them to wash appropriately for a minimum of 15 seconds (Leifer,