NCLEX Pediatric Practice: Communicable Diseases

Chickenpox (Varicella)

• Aspirin should not be given to children with chickenpox due to the risk of Reye's syndrome.
• Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used to manage fever.

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

• Antibiotics are crucial in treating pertussis to reduce the severity and spread of the disease.
• Administering antibiotics as prescribed is the priority.

Measles (Rubeola)

• Measles is often associated with conjunctivitis, cough, coryza (runny nose), and Koplik spots (small white spots) inside the mouth.
• Conjunctivitis is a key symptom that supports a diagnosis of measles.

Mumps

• Meningitis is a potential complication of mumps that is particularly concerning due to its impact on the central nervous system and potential for long-term neurological damage.
• Other potential complications of mumps include hearing loss, orchitis, and pancreatitis.

Measles

• Measles virus (paramyxovirus) causes a highly contagious viral disease
• Transmission occurs through direct contact with infected person's saliva or mucus, or airborne transmission through coughing and sneezing
• Common symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, Koplik spots, and a rash starting on the face and spreading to the rest of the body
• Complications can lead to ear infections, pneumonia, encephalitis, and rarely, death

Influenza

• Influenza viruses (A, B, and C) cause a contagious respiratory illness
• Transmission occurs through airborne transmission by coughing and sneezing, or contact with contaminated surfaces
• Symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, fatigue, and muscle or body aches
• Complications can lead to pneumonia, bronchitis, sinus and ear infections, and worsening of existing health conditions

Pertussis

• Bordetella pertussis causes a highly contagious bacterial disease
• Transmission occurs through direct contact with infected person's saliva or mucus, or airborne transmission by coughing and sneezing
• Symptoms include a mild cough that worsens over time, apnea in infants, vomiting after coughing, and a mild fever
• Complications can lead to pneumonia, seizures, encephalopathy, and rarely, death

Strep Throat

• Streptococcus pyogenes causes a bacterial infection
• Transmission occurs through direct contact with infected person's saliva or mucus, or contact with contaminated surfaces
• Symptoms include a sudden onset of sore throat, painful swallowing, fever, white or red patches on tonsils, and swollen, tender lymph nodes in the neck
• Complications can lead to kidney inflammation and rheumatic fever (rarely)

Varicella (Chickenpox)

• Varicella-zoster virus causes a highly contagious viral disease
• Transmission occurs through direct contact with infected person's saliva or mucus, or airborne transmission by coughing and sneezing
• Symptoms include an itchy, blister-like rash, fever, headache, fatigue, and loss of appetite
• Complications can lead to bacterial infections of the skin or lungs, encephalitis, and rarely, death

Fifth Disease (Erythema Infectiosum)

• Parvovirus B19 causes a mild, highly contagious viral disease
• Transmission occurs through direct contact with infected person's saliva or mucus, or airborne transmission by coughing and sneezing
• Symptoms include a bright red rash on the face (slapped-cheek appearance), lacy, pink rash on arms and legs, fever, headache, and fatigue
• Complications can lead to arthritis and anemia (rarely)