Question

A nurse in a provider's office is caring for a school-age child who has varicella. The parent asks the nurse when their child will no longer be contagious. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

A) "Your child is no longer contagious once all the blisters have crusted over."
B) "Your child is contagious until the fever has been gone for 24 hours."
C) "Your child is no longer contagious after 48 hours of starting antiviral medication."
D) "Your child is contagious until the scabs have completely fallen off."

Answer 1

The nurse's response will be A) "Your child is no longer contagious once all the blisters have crusted over."

Step-by-step explanation:

Varicella, commonly known as chickenpox, is highly contagious. The primary mode of transmission is through respiratory droplets and direct contact with the fluid from the blisters. The contagious period begins a couple of days before the rash appears and continues until all the blisters have crusted over. Option A correctly identifies this critical point in the contagious phase.

The crusting over of the blisters signifies that the active viral replication has subsided, and the risk of transmission is significantly reduced. It is important to note that the other options do not accurately reflect the contagious period of varicella. For instance, option B mentions the absence of fever for 24 hours, which is not a reliable indicator of non-contagiousness. Similarly, options C and D do not align with the typical course of chickenpox. Antiviral medications may shorten the duration of illness but do not dictate the contagious period, and the falling off of scabs is a consequence rather than a determinant of non-contagiousness.

In conclusion, the nurse's response should prioritize accurate information to guide the parent effectively. Communicating the correct timeframe, as mentioned in option A, ensures the parent understands when their child is no longer a risk for spreading the infection, promoting appropriate precautions to protect others.