Final answer:
The answer is b. No; chickenpox requires both contact and airborne precautions. A person who has never been exposed to the varicella-zoster virus is at risk of developing chickenpox if they come in close contact with someone with shingles. Effective vaccines for chickenpox and shingles are available.
Step-by-step explanation:
Is chickenpox classified under Contact precautions only? The answer is b. No. Chickenpox, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, is a highly contagious disease that requires both contact precautions and airborne precautions in a healthcare setting. This virus can spread through direct contact with the rash or through the air via respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Infection with varicella-zoster leads to a primary disease, chickenpox, characterized by a pustular rash that is more common among children and is usually mild. However, after the initial infection, the virus remains dormant in the nervous system and can later reactivate as shingles, which is typically more painful and occurs more often in adults, especially those with weakened immune systems.
A person who has never encountered the varicella-zoster virus would be at risk of developing chickenpox if exposed to a person with shingles. This is because shingles is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus that has been dormant in the host following a chickenpox infection. In someone who has not had chickenpox or received the vaccine, the virus can cause a primary chickenpox infection. An effective chickenpox vaccine is available and helps prevent both chickenpox and shingles.