A client, who delivered her third child yesterday, has just learned that her two school-age children have contracted chickenpox. What should the nurse tell her?
A) Her two children should be treated with acyclovir before she goes home from the hospital.
B) The baby will acquire immunity from her and will not be susceptible to chickenpox.
C) The children can visit their mother and baby in the hospital as planned but must wear gowns and masks.
D) She must make arrangements to stay somewhere other than her home until the children are no longer contagious.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Varicella (chickenpox) is highly contagious. Although the baby inherits immunity from the mother, it would not be safe to expose either the mother or the baby. Acyclovir is used to treat varicella pneumonia. The baby is already born and has received the immunity. If the mother never had chickenpox, she cannot transmit the immunity to the baby. Varicella infection occurring in a newborn may be life threatening.

A Client, Who Delivered Her Third Child Yesterday, Has Just