Question

A mother of a child brings the child to a clinic and reports that the child has a fever and has developed a rash on the neck and trunk. Roseola is diagnosed, and the mother is concerned that her other children will contract the disease. Which instruction should the nurse give to the mother to prevent the transmission of the disease?

a) Keep the child isolated for two weeks.
b) Practice strict hand hygiene.
c) Avoid sharing utensils with the infected child.
d) Use a separate bathroom for the infected child.

Answer 1

The most effective way to prevent the transmission of roseola, caused by human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), is to practice strict hand hygiene within the household to interrupt the transmission route.

Step-by-step explanation:

To prevent the transmission of roseola, a rash-causing illness most commonly affecting children associated with human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), the most effective instruction a nurse could give to the mother would be b) Practice strict hand hygiene. This is critical as roseola can be spread through the saliva or respiratory secretions of the infected individual.

While it might also be beneficial to avoid sharing utensils with the infected child and using a separate bathroom, these measures can be challenging to implement, especially in a busy household. Strict hand hygiene will interrupt the transmission route by ensuring that the virus is less likely to be spread to surfaces or to other individuals in the household after the infected child has touched their mouth or nose.