The nurse should emphasize to the parents that they should not give salicylate-containing medications specifically aspirin to a child who has viral symptoms such as chicken pox or flu-like symptoms for it can cause Reye’s syndrome. This rare but serious condition causes swelling in the liver and brain. Signs and symptoms includes confusion, seizures and loss of consciousness that require emergency treatment.
Therefore, parents must not practice self-medication and must always consult a physician before giving any medication to their child.