Final answer:
Parents of a child with rheumatic fever should be guided to ensure the child completes a full course of antibiotics, understand the importance of rest, monitor for joint pain or heart issues, use appropriate medications instead of aspirin, and follow prophylactic antibiotic treatment to prevent reinfection.
Step-by-step explanation:
A nurse planning care for a 12-year-old with rheumatic fever should teach the parents several important care strategies. First, it is crucial to ensure that the child completes a full course of antibiotics to treat the underlying streptococcal pharyngitis, which is the precipitating factor of acute rheumatic fever.
Additionally, the parents should be informed about the importance of rest to aid in the recovery process and the need to monitor for any signs of comorbidities like arthritis or carditis that may develop as a sequela of the disease. Management may include anti-inflammatory medications to reduce joint inflammation and pain, but aspirin should be avoided due to the risk of Reye's syndrome. Instead, alternative medications can be used under medical supervision.
Parents should also be aware of the potential for recurrent episodes, especially in the first 3-5 years following the first attack, and the importance of prophylactic antibiotic treatment to prevent reinfection, following guidelines from organizations like the American Heart Association. Furthermore, strategies to prevent other infections, such as vaccination against meningitis, should be considered to maintain overall health.