A nurse is admitting an adolescent who has rubella.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A.
Administer aspirin to the client
B.
Isolate the client from staff who are pregnant.
C.
Initiate airborne precautions.
D.
Monitor for the development of Koplik spots
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is B. Isolate the client from staff who are pregnant.
Explanation:
Rubella, also known as German measles, is a contagious viral infection that is particularly concerning for pregnant women. It is caused by the rubella virus and spreads through respiratory droplets. Although rubella is generally a mild illness in children and adults, it poses significant risks during pregnancy, including congenital rubella syndrome, which can lead to severe birth defects.
Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:
- A. Administer aspirin to the client: Aspirin is not recommended for use in children and adolescents with viral infections due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can cause liver and brain damage. For rubella, specific antiviral treatments or aspirin are not used; supportive care and symptom management are the primary approaches.
- C. Initiate airborne precautions: Rubella is not spread via airborne droplets; it is primarily transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets. The appropriate precautions for rubella are standard or droplet precautions, not airborne precautions. Airborne precautions are used for diseases such as tuberculosis or measles, which require different isolation procedures.
- D. Monitor for the development of Koplik spots: Koplik spots are characteristic of measles (rubeola), not rubella. These are small, white lesions that appear inside the mouth and are diagnostic for measles. Rubella does not present with Koplik spots, and monitoring for these would not be relevant for a rubella infection.
Isolating the client from pregnant staff is crucial because rubella poses a risk of congenital infection if a pregnant woman contracts the virus. Therefore, it is important to prevent exposure of pregnant staff to the rubella virus. This approach helps mitigate the risk of transmitting the virus to pregnant individuals who could then have adverse outcomes for their unborn child.
In summary, isolation of the client from pregnant staff is the most appropriate action to prevent potential complications associated with rubella, particularly its impact on pregnancy.