Question

Parents bring their 13-month-old toddler to the clinic. The toddler has erythema and small vesicles that ooze on the buttocks. Which instruction should the nurse give the parents?

1) Wash all bed linens and clothing with hot water.
2) Apply permethrin cream, leave it on for 8 hours, and then bathe the child.
3) Use cloth diapers and rubber pants until the rash heals.
4) Change diapers frequently and air-dry when possible.

Answer 1

The nurse should instruct the parents to change the toddler's diapers frequently and allow the buttocks to air-dry to help heal the rash.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should instruct the parents to change diapers frequently and air-dry the toddler's buttocks when possible.

The instruction for the parents of a 13-month-old toddler with erythema and small vesicles on the buttocks should focus on alleviating and preventing further irritation of the affected area. Although the given scenarios do not provide a definitive diagnosis, the symptoms described could be indicative of a diaper rash or a similar skin condition commonly occurring in toddlers.

The most effective measures in such cases are to ensure the skin is kept dry and clean by changing diapers frequently and allowing the skin to air-dry. This helps to minimize moisture and reduce the risk of further irritation or infection. Cloth diapers and rubber pants as mentioned in option 3 could actually worsen the situation by trapping moisture close to the skin. Permethrin cream, mentioned in option 2, is used for treating scabies and is not appropriate for common diaper rash. Lastly, while washing bed linens and clothing with hot water is generally good hygiene practice, it is not targeted advice for treating the rash described.