Chapter 37: Nursing Care of the Child With an Infectious or Communicable Disorder

The nurse is educating parents of a child admitted to the hospital with rubella (German measles). Which statement by the parents indicates the further education is needed?

"Antibiotics are needed to help our child recover from rubella." Rationale: Rubella (German measles) is caused by the rubella virus. Children will be contagious for 1 week before to approximately 1 week after the rash appears. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be given to help with pain or fever, and the child will be on droplet precautions (mask) while in the hospital.

A child is brought to the emergency department by his parents. The parents report that he stepped on a rusty nail about a week and a half ago. The child is complaining of cramping in his jaw and some difficulty swallowing. The nurse suspects tetanus. When assessing the child, the nurse would be alert to which muscle groups being affected next?

Neck Rationale: Tetanus progresses in a descending fashion to other muscle groups, causing spasms of the neck, arms, legs, and stomach.

The nurse is caring for multiple clients on the pediatric unit. Which child will the nurse see first?

a child with erythema infectiosum experiencing fatigue and confusion Rationale: A child with erythema infectiosum experiencing fatigue and confusion is showing signs of decreased oxygenation, possibly related to aplasia of erythrocytes caused by the virus. A child with signs and symptoms of decreased oxygenation should be seen first. Nausea and malaise are symptoms of chicken pox. A child with herpes simplex will most likely report pain an pruritis. Signs and symptoms of measles include photophobia and coryza.

What is the leading cause of neonatal sepsis and death?

Group B streptococcus Rationale: Sepsis is a systemic overresponse to infection. It is very serious and can produce septic shock and death. In infants under the 3 months of age the most causative agents are group B streptococcus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, enteroviruses, and the herpes simplex virus. Any time a febrile, ill-appearing neonate is seen, a full septic work-up is done. Neonates have the poorest outcomes from sepsis. Neisseria meningitidis is one cause of sepsis in older children. The Epstein-Barr virus is a herpes virus that causes mononucleosis. The cytomegalovirus is a common herpes virus. It is spread through bodily fluids and is not necessarily a concern unless the person is immunocompromised or is pregnant.

A group of nursing students are reviewing the functions of white blood cells. The students demonstrate an understanding of the information when they identify which white blood cell as responsible for combating allergic disorders?

eosinophils Rationale: Eosinophils function to combat allergic disorders and parasitic infestations. Neutrophils function to combat bacterial infections. Lymphocytes function to combat viral infections. Monocytes function to combat severe infections.

A nurse is obtaining a history from the parents of a child diagnosed with an infection. The parents report that the child started running a fever a couple of days ago and that he "just didn't seem like himself." Then this morning, the child started having yellow-green discharge from the nose. The nurse would identify the child has just completed which stage of an infectious disease?

prodrome Rationale: The child is in the prodrome stage of the infection. Prodrome refers to the time from the onset of nonspecific symptoms—such as fever, malaise, and fatigue—to more specific symptoms. Incubation refers to the time from the entrance of the pathogen into the body to the appearance of the first symptoms. The illness stage is the time during which the child demonstrates signs and symptoms specific to an infection type. Convalescence refers to the time when the acute symptoms of the illness disappear.

A child has been diagnosed with hookworm. The nurse is teaching the parent about the treatment for the condition. Which statement made by the parent confirms that further education is needed?

"My child can play outside bare footed when treatment is done." Rationale: Hookworms are found in soil, especially in areas with warmer climates. They enter the body through the skin, pores and hair follicles. The treatment is with the drug albendazole. The duration is from 7 to 14 days of treatment. Most importantly, besides medication, good handwashing and sanitation practices are needed. Children should wear shoes and not go barefoot outside since the worms can enter through the soles of the feet. The worms attach themselves to the walls of the small intestine where they feed and reproduce. This can cause anemia. The child's diet should include foods high in iron or iron supplements. All children who are suspected or at high risk should be evaluated for hookworms.

A 9-month-old child has been admitted to rule out sepsis. Which finding offers the most support to the presence of this disorder?

The child has had 8 ounces of formula in the past 24 hours. Rationale: Sepsis is a systemic overresponse to infection resulting from bacteria and viruses, which are the most common fungi, viruses, rickettsia, or parasites. It can lead to septic shock, which results in hypotension, low blood flow, and multisystem organ failure. Signs of sepsis include a lack of appetite, lethargy, hypotonia, and temperature elevations.

When providing care for a child with herpes zoster (shingles), the parents ask the nurse how the child contracted this infectious disorder. Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?

"Herpes zoster is a reactivation of a previous varicella zoster infection." Rationale: Herpes zoster (shingles) is reactivation of the latent varicella zoster (chickenpox) infection that occurs during times of immunosuppression and aging. Although it is possible to contract the varicella zoster virus from a person with herpes zoster or varicella zoster, a child diagnosed with herpes zoster has already been exposed to varicella zoster. Handwashing will not directly prevent herpes zoster.

The father of a child with mononucleosis is concerned with his child's fever and cough. The father asks when antibiotic therapy will begin. What is the best response by the nurse?

"Mononucleosis is a viral infection so an antibiotic isn't used. We address the symptoms with appropriate therapy." Rationale: Antibiotics are only used for bacterial infections, not viral infections unless a secondary bacterial infection develops from the virus. Treatment for viral infections is aimed at treating the client's symptoms.

The parents of a 4-month-old diagnosed with sepsis tell the nurse that the physician explained sepsis to them but they don't really understand it. The parents state, "Could you please explain it to us?" What is the best response by the nurse?

"The infection your child has causes the release of toxins into the system, which can lead to impaired function in the lungs, liver, and kidneys." Rationale: Keeping the answer to what sepsis is will help the parents understand the pathophysiology. While all answers are correct, the response: "The infection your child has causes the release of toxins into the system, which can lead to impaired function in the lungs, liver, and kidneys" provides the most understandable explanation and addresses the parent's question.

Parents bring their 9-year-old child to the clinic for a well-child visit. They are concerned because several children in the neighborhood have developed Lyme disease and ask for suggestions on what to do to reduce their child's risk. What would be appropriate for the nurse to suggest? Select all that apply.

> Wearing protective clothing when playing in wooded areas. > Inspecting the skin closely for ticks after the child plays in wooded areas. > Contacting the health care provider if there is any area of inflammation that might be a bite. Rationale: The nurse should teach the parents to have the child wear protective clothing and dress the child in light clothing when playing in wooded areas or going outdoors. The parents should inspect the child's skin closely for ticks after being outside in wooded areas and if any ticks are found, remove them with a tweezer, not rub them with a credit card. The parents also should be instructed to contact their health care provider if they notice any area of inflammation that might be a tick bite.

A nursing instructor is teaching the students about the standard and transmission-based precautions. What type of precautions require placing a client in an isolated room with limited access, wearing gloves during contact with the client and all body fluids or contaminated items, wearing two layers of protective clothing, and avoiding sharing equipment between clients?

Contact precautions Rationale: Contact precautions means placing the client in an isolation room with limited access, wearing gloves during contact with the client and all body fluids, wearing two layers of protective clothing, limiting movement of the client from the room, and avoiding sharing equipment between clients. Standard precautions are used with every client. They involve good handwashing and the use of gloves for client contact. Airborne precautions are used for diseases where small particles are dispersed in the air. They require that the client be in a negative-pressure room and, in addition to standard personal protective equipment, the mask should be N95 or higher. Varicella would need airborne precautions. Droplet precautions are used for diseases such as pertussis, which produce large droplets. They require standard precautions plus a surgical mask, preferably with a face shield.

Nursing students are learning about the infectious process. They correctly identify the first stage of an infectious disease to be which period?

Incubation period Rationale: Infection occurs when an organism invades the body and multiplies, causing damage to the tissue and cells. The infectious process goes through four stages. The incubation period is the first stage of the infectious disease. It is the time between the invasion of an organism and the onset of symptoms of infection. The prodromal period is the time from the onset of nonspecific symptoms to specific symptoms, for example, cold/flu-like symptoms before Koplik spots occur in measles. The illness is the time during which symptoms of the specific illness occur. The convalescent stage is the time when the acute symptoms disappear.

The nurse is assessing a child who presents with a history of fever, malaise, fatigue, and headache. The nurse notes a bulls-eye rash on the child's right leg. Which action will the nurse take?

Notify the primary health care provider. Rationale: The nurse would suspect the child has Lyme disease and notify the health care provider for additional testing and potential antibiotic therapy. Precautions are not indicated for clients with Lyme disease. An ECG would only be needed if cardiac symptoms were noted. It is recommended to clean the site of the tick bite with rubbing alcohol when the tick is removed, not at a later time.

The student nurse is discussing the plan of care for a child admitted to the hospital for treatment of an infection. Which action should be taken first?

Obtain blood cultures. Rationale: When treating a child suspected of having an infection, the blood cultures must be obtained first. The administration of antibiotics may impact the culture's results. A urine specimen may be obtained but is not the priority action. Intravenous fluids will likely be included in the plan of care but are not the priority action.

The nurse at an outpatient facility is obtaining a blood specimen from a 9-year-old girl. Which technique would most likely be used?

Puncturing a vein on the dorsal side of the hand. Rationale: The usual sites for obtaining blood specimens are veins on the dorsal side of the hand or the antecubital fossa. Administration of sucrose prior to beginning helps control pain for young infants. Accessing an indwelling venous access device may be appropriate if the child is in an acute care setting. An automatic lancet device is used for capillary puncture of an infant's heel.

A nurse practitioner suspects that a child has scarlet fever based on which assessment finding?

Red, strawberry tongue Rationale: The characteristic assessment finding that distinguishes scarlet fever from other disorders is the appearance of the red, strawberry tongue. Sore throat, an enanthematous and exanthematous rash, and white exudate on the tonsils are also seen with scarlet fever, but it is the strawberry tongue that helps to confirm the diagnosis.

Which child will the nurse identify as at greatest risk for developing a urinary tract infection?

an 8-month-old bottle-fed female with HIV Rationale: Factors that make an individual more prone to a urinary tract infection include young age, female gender, and immunosuppression. Infants who are formula-fed are at greater risk than infants who are breastfed. To determine the child at greatest risk, the nurse should count risk factors and determine which child has the most risk factors.

A young girl arrives at the emergency room after being bitten by a neighbor's dog. The mother is concerned her daughter will get rabies. The nurse carefully examines and treats the bite and questions the mother and daughter about the details surrounding the dog biting her. What information would most strongly indicate a risk for rabies infection in this client?

The dog was unprovoked when he bit the girl Rationale: An unprovoked attack is much more suggestive that the animal is rabid, rather than if the bite happens during a provoked attack. The dog being immunized for rabies and there being no other reported instances of rabies in the area would indicate a lower risk that the dog was rabid. The fact that the dog belonged to a neighbor does not necessarily indicate a lower risk for rabies infection.

What is a true statement regarding measles?

The incubation period is 10 to 12 days. Rationale: Measles is a highly contagious disease spread via droplets from the nasopharyngeal secretions. The typical incubation period is 10 to 12 days. Outbreaks peak in the winter and spring. It is communicable 1 to 2 days before the onset of symptoms. The initial symptoms are fever, cough, coryza and conjunctivitis. These symptoms are followed by Koplik spots seen in the mouth. A rash develops on the head and spreads downward and outward.

A nurse is assessing a neonate with sepsis. The nurse understands that most commonly the cause involves:

bacteria. Rationale: Neonatal sepsis can be caused by viruses such as herpes simplex or enteroviruses and by protozoa (e.g., oxoplasma gondii). However, bacteria are typically the culprits.

A child is diagnosed with scarlet fever. History reveals that the child has no known drug allergies. When preparing the child's plan of care, the nurse would anticipate administering which agent as the drug of choice?

penicillin V Rationale: Penicillin V is the antibiotic of choice. In those sensitive to penicillin, erythromycin may be used. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and clarithromycin are not used.

A young client arrives at the clinic with a rash on the trunk and flexor surfaces of the extremities. The parent informs the nurse that the rash started a day before on the exterior surfaces of the extremities; 2 days before, the child had a really bad rash on the face. The health care provider diagnoses the child with erythema infectiosum. The nurse tells the parent that this is also known as:

fifth disease Rationale: Erythema infectiosum is also known as "fifth disease." It starts with a fever, headache, and malaise. One week later, a rash appears on the face. A day later, the rash appears on the extensor surfaces of the extremities. One more day later, the rash appears on the trunk and flexor surfaces of the extremities. Pityriasis rosea is a skin rash that begins with a large spot on the chest, abdomen, or back that is followed by a pattern of small lesions. It is self-limiting and can be treated with steroid creams. Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that causes redness to the face. An enterovirus infection can many times cause the same symptoms as the common cold or it can include the respiratory system. It is contagious.

The most common complication of varicella is:

secondary bacterial infections. Rationale: Varicella starts with lesions that appear first on the scalp, face, trunk, and then extremities. The lesions begin as macules then develop into papules and finally clear, fluid-filled vesicles. These lesions are intensely pruritic. The most common complication of varicella is secondary bacterial infection caused by the child scratching the lesions. Other complications include pneumonia, scarring, and encephalitis.

The nurse is caring for a child admitted to the hospital for sepsis. Which assessment finding is the most concerning?

urine output of 10 ml over 3 hours Rationale: Children with sepsis will show alteration in temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and white blood cell count. Septic shock with organ dysfunction is more serious and can be manifested by decreased urine output.

The nurse is providing teaching to the parents of a child with varicella. Which statement indicates that the parents have understood the instructions?

"We need to make sure that he washes his hands frequently." Rationale: The child with varicella needs to wash his hands frequently with antibacterial soap to reduce bacterial colonization. A cool bath with soothing colloidal oatmeal may help the skin discomfort. Alcohol would be too drying to the skin. Acetaminophen, not aspirin, should be used to reduce fever. The lesions should eventually crust over. Soft crusts with drainage may suggest an infection.

A school-aged child is recovering from varicella. The parent calls the school nurse and states, "my child is feeling much better" and asks when the child can return to school. What information does the nurse provide the parent?

"Your child may return to school when all of the lesions have crusted over." Rationale: Varicella is a highly communicable disease. It is spread via airborne transmission or by direct contact with the nasopharyngeal secretions of an infected person. Varicella is communicable from 1 to 2 days before the rash occurs until all the vesicles have crusted over. The nurse would be correct in telling the parent the child cannot return to school, even though the child is feeling better, until all the vesicles have crusted over. The child does not have to be free of lesions. Being free of fever does not make the child less communicable. The child would not need a permission slip from the health care provider unless this is a specific requirement by the child's school district.

A nurse is preparing a presentation for parents about common childhood infectious diseases. What conditions would the nurse include as being caused by a tick bite? Select all that apply.

> Lyme disease > Rocky Mountain spotted fever Rationale: Infectious diseases caused by tick bites include Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Psittacosis is transmitted to children by birds. Ascariasis is a roundworm infection. Scabies is a parasitic infection caused by a female mite.

The rash in roseola is pruritic. Which measure would you teach the parent to provide comfort?

Apply cool compresses to the skin to stop local itching. Rationale: Rashes can be uncomfortable and irritating. Parents need to be educated on ways to relieve discomfort and to protect and maintain skin integrity. Cool compresses or cool baths will help to relieve the itching associated with the rash. Antipruritics may be necessary to help with itching. To protect the skin, the child should be instructed not to scratch the skin to alleviate itching. The child's fingernails should be kept short. Keeping the child dressed warmly will not bring out the rash any sooner. Being warm will, however, cause increased body temperature and intensify the itching. Aspirin should not be used in children as an antipyretic. There is an increased risk of developing Reye syndrome.

The nurse is caring for a child whose family recently emigrated from a developing country. While completing the admission history, the parents report all the child's immunizations are up to date. Which nursing action is most appropriate?

Ask parents which immunizations have been given. Rationale: When caring for a child recently emigrated from a developing country, the nurse should be aware that WHO recommended vaccinations and U.S. recommended vaccinations may be different. The most appropriate action is for the nurse to determine which vaccinations have been given to decide if additional immunizations may be needed.

The mother of a 10-year-old child diagnosed with rubella asks what can be done to help her child feel better during her illness. What information can be provided?

Encourage rest and relaxation. Rationale: Rubella infection is usually mild and self-limited. The care given is normally supportive. Rest is encouraged. Medications administered are normally limited to antipyretics and analgesics. Antibiotic and antiviral therapies are not normally included in the plan of treatment. Range of motion is not needed as mobility of the client is not limited.

The nurse is teaching a group of parents about head lice. Which statement is essential to include during the presentation?

Head lice are becoming very resistant to treatment. Rationale: The accurate advice is that head lice are becoming resistant to treatment. Children with head lice do not need to stay home, but parents should follow school policies regarding whether children are allowed in school until they are nit-free. Children should be allowed to participate in sleepovers, preferably bringing their own pillows. Head lice do not survive long once they have fallen off. Most children can be treated effectively without treating their bedding and clothing.