Posted: August 16th, 2017

The nurse teaches the patient who demonstrates herpes zoster (shingles) that

The nurse teaches the patient who demonstrates herpes zoster (shingles) that
a) the infection results from reactivation of the chickenpox virus.
It is assumed that herpes zoster represents a reactivation of latent varicella (chickenpox) virus and reflects lowered immunity.
b) once a patient has had shingles, they will not have it a second time.
It is believed that the varicella zoster virus lies dormant inside nerve cells near the brain and spinal cord and is reactivated with weakened immune systems and cancers.
c) a person who has had chickenpox can contract it again upon exposure to a person with shingles.
A person who has had chickenpox is immune and, therefore, not at risk of infection after exposure to patients with herpes zoster.
d) There are no known medications that affect the course of shingles.
There is some evidence that infection is arrested if oral antiviral agents are administered within 24 hours of the initial eruption.