Question

1. An 18 month old child presents to her primary care physician with fever and diffuse vesiculopustular lesions over her entire body. Two days ago, she developed a rash on her scalp, face, and trunk. On examination, the child has a mild fever and rapid heart rate and is in some distress because the lesions are "itchy." Her family physician tells the child's parents to take her home and prescribes ointments to alleviate the skin lesions. In addition, he says that they should, under no circumstances, give her aspirin to alleviate the discomfort. In caring for the child, the mother comes down with the same condition. Both patients recover from the infection but some of the skin lesions heal leaving a tiny pit of a scar. - What is wrong with the child? - Could her condition have been prevented? How? - Why did the physician advise her parents not to administer aspirin? In what other conditions is the use of aspirin prohibited? - Is this child likely to get the virus again?

Answer 1

Answer is as follows:

1. As per the signs and symptoms mentioned above ie. Diffuse vesicles all over the body, itching, fever, the child suffers from chickenpox which is highly contagious and needs isolation

2. This condition could have prevented if the child had been vaccinated against varicella by giving varicella vaccine between age 12-15 months old

3. Aspirin is strictly prohibited if the child has or is suffering from a viral disease. It may cause Reye syndrome which is very dangerous as it affects the liver and brain

4. Most of the people develop immunity against the virus after 1st attack. Immunocompromised people can get the virus but in different form called herpes zoster or shingles