Question

Casey Alexander, a 14-year-old high school football player, is admitted to your unit with shingles (varicella zoster). He has painful lesions on his face and down one side of his neck. His mother has decided to remain with him while he is on isolation precautions and unable to leave his hospital room. After administering the prescribed‚ analgesic, which age-appropriate complementary therapy would you encourage the mother to do?

1) Reading a story to her son
2) Blowing bubbles with her son
3) Inviting friends to visit
4) Swaddling her son

Answer 1

For a 14-year-old high school student with shingles, reading a story is an age-appropriate and soothing complementary therapy.

Step-by-step explanation:

Casey Alexander, a 14-year-old high school football player, has been admitted with shingles, also known as herpes zoster. This condition is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes chickenpox, and occurs when the virus is reactivated in a person who has previously had chickenpox. An appropriate age-appropriate complementary therapy to encourage the mother to participate in, after administering the prescribed analgesic, would be reading a story to her son. This activity is suitable for his age and would help pass the time in a relaxing manner while he is unable to leave his room due to isolation precautions.