lOMoARcPSD|15963292
PEDIATRIC NURSING (BROWARD COLLEGE)
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES 2024/2025
, lOMoARcPSD|15963292
Communicable
Diseases
Rubella • Transmission: Droplet spread (direct contact with nasal secretions)
(German Measles) • Incubation period: 14-21 days (2-3 weeks)
• Period of communicability: 7 days before and 7 days after the rash onset
• Prodromal stage:
~~ 5 days before rash ~~
- Low-grade fever
- Malaise; general ill feeling
- Coryza (inflammation of the mucus membranes of the nose)
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Photophobia
- Forschheimer spots
-Viral infection
that causes a red
rash to appear on
the body
Discrete, erythematous pinpoint or larger lesions on soft palate
- Lymphadenopathy – posterior auricular and suboccipital
• Rash stage: pink, maculopapular rash first appears on the face and rapidly spreads
downward to neck, trunk, and legs (fades in same sequence). Duration is 3 days. Gone
by third day.
• Complications:
- Greatest danger is the teratogenic effect on the fetus; congenital rubella
birth defects
- Arthralgia
- Encephalitis
• Prevention: childhood immunization
• Medical Management: Supportive (symptomatic) treatment. Antipyretics for fever
and analgesics for pain. Rubella is self-limiting in children. Full recovery is
expected.
• Nursing Management:
- Standard and droplet precautions
- Contact precautions – infants with congenital rubella until 1 year of age
- Isolate the child from pregnant women
- Encourage fluids and food; quiet activities
- Nonaspirin analgesics and antipyretics for any pain and fever
- Keep child away from daycare or school for 7 days after the rash
Measles (Rubeola) • Transmission: Direct contact with respiratory droplets and airborne spread; urine
• Incubation period: about 8-12 days
• Period of communicability: from 4 days before rash until 4 days after its
appearance
• Prodromal stage:
)
, lOMoARcPSD|15963292
Communicable
Diseases
~~ this stage lasts 1-3 days ~~
- High fever
- Malaise
- Cough
- Coryza
- Conjunctivitis
- Koplik spots
Blue-gray spots on an erythematous base that appear opposite the second
molars on the buccal mucosa (base that’s red with white spots)
• Stage 2:
~~ peaks in 2-4 days ~~
- Maculopapular rash from dark red to purple. This pruritic rash begins on
the face and spreads to the trunk and extremities. After 2-4 days, assumes
brownish appearance and fine desquamation occurs over areas of extensive
involvement.
• Other symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Photophobia
- Generalized lymphadenopathy
• Complications:
- Pneumonia
- Otitis media
- Laryngitis
- Diarrhea
- Encephalitis
• Prevention: childhood immunization
• Medical Management:
- Supportive care (no antiviral therapy) such as bed rest and antipyretics
during febrile periods.
- Antipruritics for itchy rash
- Antibiotics are used for secondary bacterial infections (pneumonia).
- MMR vaccine within 72 hours or immune globulin within 6 days of exposure
may help prevent or reduce severity.
)
PEDIATRIC NURSING (BROWARD COLLEGE)
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES 2024/2025
, lOMoARcPSD|15963292
Communicable
Diseases
Rubella • Transmission: Droplet spread (direct contact with nasal secretions)
(German Measles) • Incubation period: 14-21 days (2-3 weeks)
• Period of communicability: 7 days before and 7 days after the rash onset
• Prodromal stage:
~~ 5 days before rash ~~
- Low-grade fever
- Malaise; general ill feeling
- Coryza (inflammation of the mucus membranes of the nose)
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Photophobia
- Forschheimer spots
-Viral infection
that causes a red
rash to appear on
the body
Discrete, erythematous pinpoint or larger lesions on soft palate
- Lymphadenopathy – posterior auricular and suboccipital
• Rash stage: pink, maculopapular rash first appears on the face and rapidly spreads
downward to neck, trunk, and legs (fades in same sequence). Duration is 3 days. Gone
by third day.
• Complications:
- Greatest danger is the teratogenic effect on the fetus; congenital rubella
birth defects
- Arthralgia
- Encephalitis
• Prevention: childhood immunization
• Medical Management: Supportive (symptomatic) treatment. Antipyretics for fever
and analgesics for pain. Rubella is self-limiting in children. Full recovery is
expected.
• Nursing Management:
- Standard and droplet precautions
- Contact precautions – infants with congenital rubella until 1 year of age
- Isolate the child from pregnant women
- Encourage fluids and food; quiet activities
- Nonaspirin analgesics and antipyretics for any pain and fever
- Keep child away from daycare or school for 7 days after the rash
Measles (Rubeola) • Transmission: Direct contact with respiratory droplets and airborne spread; urine
• Incubation period: about 8-12 days
• Period of communicability: from 4 days before rash until 4 days after its
appearance
• Prodromal stage:
)
, lOMoARcPSD|15963292
Communicable
Diseases
~~ this stage lasts 1-3 days ~~
- High fever
- Malaise
- Cough
- Coryza
- Conjunctivitis
- Koplik spots
Blue-gray spots on an erythematous base that appear opposite the second
molars on the buccal mucosa (base that’s red with white spots)
• Stage 2:
~~ peaks in 2-4 days ~~
- Maculopapular rash from dark red to purple. This pruritic rash begins on
the face and spreads to the trunk and extremities. After 2-4 days, assumes
brownish appearance and fine desquamation occurs over areas of extensive
involvement.
• Other symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Photophobia
- Generalized lymphadenopathy
• Complications:
- Pneumonia
- Otitis media
- Laryngitis
- Diarrhea
- Encephalitis
• Prevention: childhood immunization
• Medical Management:
- Supportive care (no antiviral therapy) such as bed rest and antipyretics
during febrile periods.
- Antipruritics for itchy rash
- Antibiotics are used for secondary bacterial infections (pneumonia).
- MMR vaccine within 72 hours or immune globulin within 6 days of exposure
may help prevent or reduce severity.
)
