Question

A young mother has brought her 2 week-old infant at the clinic for a well-baby check up.She is concerned because her baby has been exposed to varicella-zoster virus (chicken-pox). She is frantic and states, " We've had so many visitors, so many family members have come to celebrate our daughter's birth. I didn't know until it was too late that my niece just got over the chicken pox. Will my baby get chicken pox?"

Choose one (1) of the following DB Comment Options - Use APA Format for All Citations.

1. Discuss the altered physiology presented in the clinical situation.
2. Draw from your personal nursing practice - link the clinical situation to your personal nursing practice.
3. Discuss clinical assessments, decisions, and interventions for the situation presented.
4. Discuss anticipatory, safe, and deliberate nursing care for the situation presented.  
5. Discuss how the altered physiology, noted in the clinical situation, affects aspects of wellness. Address at least at least three (3) of the following aspects of wellness: Physical, intellectual, emotional, social, cultural, or economic.

Answer 1

Chicken pox a communicable disease caused by varicella zoster virus. Chicken pox spreads from one person to other if skin contact occurs with the rashes.

1) Altered physiology in chicken pox:

- once exposed to chicken pox virus varicella zoster the virus enters into human host.

- replication of virus takes place in lymphoid tissues.

- varicella virus enters into T cells.

- Infected T cells enters in to cutaneous site and there it get replicated.

2) First reassure the mother not to panic in this situation. Get clear information about her niece post days after chicken pox.

The incubation period of chicken pox ranges from 14- 21 days after suffered from chicken pox.

Encourage mother to identify any early signs of general tiredness, fever ranging over 102 deg F, appearance of blisters with redness over the skin.

3) Clinical assessment focussed on a general physical examination to identify any rashes resembling chicken pox. Vital signs check to identify hyperthermia, appearance of child , irritability, constant cry, fuzziness.

4) Since varicella vaccine is not recommended for children younger than 12 month old it's not advisable in this case as child is just 2 week old. As per CDC guideline if a infant is healthy and not immunocompromised it is not recommended for any post exposure prophylactic chicken pox vaccine. Watch and wait will help in this situation.