A nurse is caring for a child with suspected measles. Which diagnostic test should the nurse expect to be performed to confirm the diagnosis?

Choice A rationale:

Chest X-ray is not a diagnostic test for measles. It may be used to assess for complications like pneumonia.

Choice B rationale:

Throat swab culture is not used to diagnose measles. It is more commonly used to detect bacterial infections such as strep throat.

Choice C rationale:

Blood glucose level is not relevant to the diagnosis of measles.

Choice D rationale:

Measles-specific IgM antibodies test is the definitive diagnostic test for measles. It detects the presence of specific antibodies produced by the immune system in response to the measles virus.

Choice B rationale:

The nurse accurately informs the client that they are contagious for about a week after the rash appears. The period of contagiousness starts a few days before the rash appears and continues until approximately 4 days after the rash has emerged. Measles is highly contagious, and transmission occurs through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing.

Choice A rationale:

This statement is incorrect. The client is contagious a few days before the rash appears and not only from the onset of the rash until two days afterward.

Choice C rationale:

This statement is incorrect. The client is contagious during the prodrome stage, which is before the appearance of the rash, as well as during the exanthematous stage when the rash is present.

Choice D rationale:

This statement is incorrect. The fever subsides during the prodrome stage, but the client remains contagious during the early part of the exanthematous stage when the rash is present.