A nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with chickenpox. What interventions should the nurse implement to manage the patient's condition effectively? Select all that apply.

Choice A rationale:

Monitor vital signs, fluid intake and output, weight, and skin integrity. This statement is correct. When caring for a patient with chickenpox, monitoring vital signs can help detect any signs of complications like fever. Fluid intake and output, weight, and skin integrity are important to assess the patient's hydration status and the progression of the rash.

Choice B rationale:

Administer medications as prescribed and monitor for adverse effects. This statement is correct. The nurse should give antiviral medications if prescribed to help shorten the duration of the illness and reduce its severity. Monitoring for any adverse effects from the medications is essential for patient safety.

Choice C rationale:

Encourage contact with pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals to build immunity. This statement is incorrect. Encouraging contact with pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals is not appropriate because chickenpox is highly contagious and can pose serious risks to these vulnerable populations. The nurse should advise the patient to avoid contact with them until they are no longer infectious.

Choice D rationale:

Advise the patient to avoid contact with those who have had chickenpox or been vaccinated. This statement is partially correct. The patient should avoid contact with individuals who have not had chickenpox or have not been vaccinated against it to prevent the spread of the disease. However, vaccinated individuals are less likely to transmit the virus than those with active chickenpox.

Choice E rationale:

Isolate the patient until all lesions are crusted over to prevent transmission to others. This statement is correct. Isolating the patient until all the lesions are crusted over is an important infection control measure to prevent the spread of the varicella-zoster virus to others. Once the lesions are crusted, the patient is no longer contagious.

Choice A rationale:

Young adults between 20 to 30 years of age are at a higher risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) compared to other age groups. This age range often includes individuals who may be exposed to TB in various settings, such as college or university students, individuals in the workforce, and those who may engage in behaviors that increase the risk of TB transmission, such as socializing in crowded places.

Choice B rationale:

Children under the age of 5 are also considered a high-risk group for TB, especially in regions with a high prevalence of the disease. However, in many settings, young adults between 20 to 30 years of age have shown higher rates of TB infection and disease compared to young children.

Choice C rationale:

Elderly individuals over the age of 65 are generally considered at higher risk for developing severe complications from TB, but their risk of primary TB infection is lower compared to younger age groups, including young adults between 20 to 30 years of age.

Choice D rationale:

Pregnant women, like the elderly, are at higher risk of severe complications if they develop TB during pregnancy. However, the incidence of TB is generally lower in pregnant women compared to young adults between 20 to 30 years of age, who are more socially active and likely to encounter TB-exposed individuals.