Chickenpox_flashcards
Has the child been drinking adequate fluids?
Encourage adequate fluid intake.
How are you dressing the child to avoid overheating or shivering?
Dress the child appropriately to avoid overheating or shivering.
Are you using smooth, cotton fabrics for the child’s clothing?
Use smooth, cotton fabrics for the child’s clothing.
Have you kept the child’s nails short to minimize damage from scratching?
Keep the child’s nails short to minimize damage from scratching.
Is the child experiencing pain or fever? Have you given paracetamol for relief?
Administer paracetamol for pain or fever, but avoid NSAIDs.
Are you using topical calamine lotion or chlorphenamine for the child’s itch?
Apply topical calamine lotion for itch and use chlorphenamine for itch if the child is aged 1 year or older.
When did the rash first appear?
Note the appearance of the rash and the duration since it first appeared.
Are you aware that the most infectious period is 1-2 days before the rash appears and continues until all lesions are dry and crusted over?
Inform that the most infectious period is 1-2 days before the rash appears, continuing until all lesions are dry and crusted over (usually around 5 days after onset).
Is the child attending school or avoiding contact with immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, or infants under 4 weeks old?
Advise to avoid contact with school, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, and infants under 4 weeks old.
Have there been any signs of serious complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, dehydration, bacterial superinfection, or purpura fulminans?
Watch for signs of serious complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, dehydration, bacterial superinfection, or purpura fulminans.
Is the child’s condition deteriorating or are there any complications that require urgent medical advice?
Seek urgent medical advice if the child’s condition deteriorates or complications develop.
If the child is an adolescent (aged 14 years or older) with severe disease, was oral aciclovir started within 24 hours of rash onset?
Consider oral aciclovir 800 mg 5 times a day for 7 days if the child is an adolescent (aged 14 years or older) presenting within 24 hours of rash onset.
For neonatal chickenpox, was immediate specialist advice sought?
Seek immediate specialist advice for neonatal chickenpox.
If the child is immunocompromised, was IV aciclovir or PO valaciclovir started within 24 hours of the onset of the rash?
Start IV aciclovir for 7 days or PO valaciclovir if the child is immunocompromised and presents within 24 hours of the onset of the rash or if the chickenpox is severe.
Is human varicella zoster immunoglobulin being used for high-risk immunocompromised individuals following contact with chickenpox?
Use human varicella zoster immunoglobulin for high-risk immunocompromised individuals with deficient T cell function following contact with chickenpox.
