Varicella
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
Varicella (chicken pox) is highly communicable and is a common epidemic disease of childhood (peak incidence in children age 2-6 years). Adult cases do occur. Zoster occurs sporadically, chiefly in adults and without seasonal prevalence. Ten to 20 percent of adults will experience at least one zoster attack during their lifetime. It is much more common in winter and spring than in summer in temperate climates. Varicella spreads readily by airborne droplets and by direct contact. A varicella patient is probably infectious from shortly before the appearance of vesicles to about 5 days later. Contact infection is less common in zoster, perhaps because the virus is absent from the upper respiratory tract in typical cases. Zoster patients can be the source of varicella in susceptible children and can initiate large outbreaks. Uncomplicated varicella is a mild disease. Very few patients require hospitalization; less than 1% of those die, usually from central nervous or lung complications. The mortality rate may approach 30% in leukemic children infected with varicella in the absence of treatment. January 11, 2012, AM shift at San Lazaro Hospital, we took care of a patient who was diagnosed with Varicella Infection G1, P0 31-32 weeks AOG. On the day of our duty, we introduced ourselves and took her vital signs. She is pregnant so we conducted a short health teaching on what to do before and after she delivers her baby. Our patient is a person who you can get along with. We conducted a quick assessment and interviewed her.
A. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The study focuses on a patient diagnosed with Varicella, which is commonly called Chicken Pox. This research paper aims to tackle the appropriate nursing care to a patient with this condition; and to know the ideal nursing interventions that could be done for the said patient’s well-being. This study aims to present in a more understandable way of
INTRODUCTION
Varicella (chicken pox) is highly communicable and is a common epidemic disease of childhood (peak incidence in children age 2-6 years). Adult cases do occur. Zoster occurs sporadically, chiefly in adults and without seasonal prevalence. Ten to 20 percent of adults will experience at least one zoster attack during their lifetime. It is much more common in winter and spring than in summer in temperate climates. Varicella spreads readily by airborne droplets and by direct contact. A varicella patient is probably infectious from shortly before the appearance of vesicles to about 5 days later. Contact infection is less common in zoster, perhaps because the virus is absent from the upper respiratory tract in typical cases. Zoster patients can be the source of varicella in susceptible children and can initiate large outbreaks. Uncomplicated varicella is a mild disease. Very few patients require hospitalization; less than 1% of those die, usually from central nervous or lung complications. The mortality rate may approach 30% in leukemic children infected with varicella in the absence of treatment. January 11, 2012, AM shift at San Lazaro Hospital, we took care of a patient who was diagnosed with Varicella Infection G1, P0 31-32 weeks AOG. On the day of our duty, we introduced ourselves and took her vital signs. She is pregnant so we conducted a short health teaching on what to do before and after she delivers her baby. Our patient is a person who you can get along with. We conducted a quick assessment and interviewed her.
A. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The study focuses on a patient diagnosed with Varicella, which is commonly called Chicken Pox. This research paper aims to tackle the appropriate nursing care to a patient with this condition; and to know the ideal nursing interventions that could be done for the said patient’s well-being. This study aims to present in a more understandable way of