Question

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

A. "Your child will no longer be contagious once the fever is gone."
B. "It's safe for your child to return to school as soon as the rash appears."
C. "Wait for at least 24 hours after all the lesions have crusted over."
D. "Your child can go back to school as soon as the chickenpox vaccine is administered."

Answer 1

The nurse should advise the parents to wait for at least 24 hours after all the lesions have crusted over before their child is no longer contagious.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should respond by saying, "Wait for at least 24 hours after all the lesions have crusted over."

Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and individuals are contagious from about 2 days before the outbreak of the rash until all the lesions have scabbed over. Once the fever is gone or the rash appears does not necessarily indicate that the child is no longer contagious.

Source:

Roseola and Fifth Disease, Infectious diseases can be contagious during all five of the periods of disease.