Varicella Differentiation, Anthrax, Botulism, Pneumonic Plague, Tularemia, Viral
Hemorrhagic Fevers, Category A Biological Agents, Isolation Protocols, Airborne
and Contact Precautions, Decontamination Procedures, Field Medical Facility
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Vaccinia Virus, Vaccine Education, First Responder Prioritization, Infection
Control, Public Health Surveillance, CDC Guidelines, Symptom Recognition,
Prodromal Phase Identification, Rash Progression, Macules-Papules-Vesicles-
Pustules, Epidemiology, Mass Casualty Drill Simulation, Emergency Department
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Plan Implementation, Interprofessional Collaboration, Airway Management,
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One of Thomas' professional duties includes educating public health officials on the recognition
and immediate response to biological, chemical, and nuclear warfare. He is considered to be an
expert in this field. Thomas teaches a class for health professionals on how to differentiate
variola virus (smallpox) from varicella zoster (chickenpox)
What info should the nurse include in the class?
Smallpox lesions develop synchronously.
Smallpox lesions develop synchronously while chicken pox lesions develop in various stages.
Thomas explains the last case of smallpox reported in the US was in 1949 and the last case
reported worldwide was in 1977. The disease was declared eradicated in 1980, but the events
, of September and October 2001 have caused concerns about the possible use of the virus as an
agent of bioterrorism. Thomas instructs the public health officials to recognize the phases of
infection for variola virus.
If a client exhibits malaise, fever, h/a, vomiting, rigors, and backache, the nurse should recognize
the client infected with variola virus is in which phase of infection?
Prodromal
This describes the phase of nonspecific, vague symptoms that may precede the full
manifestation of an infection.
If an outbreak of variola virus is suspected, which resource provides current info to the nurse
about practice guidelines?
CDC
This is the best resource for obtaining current practice info for infectious diseases
Many healthcare providers (HCPs) are familiar with chickenpox, however very few have seen a
case of smallpox. Due to the potential of smallpox being used as a bioweapon, Thomas should
include which distinguishing characteristics of small pox in his edu session?
-Rash progression is macular, papular, vesicular, and pustular, followed by crusted scab
-Rash is "centripetal" with lesions most abundant on the face and extremities
Thomas informs the class that the CDC has an incubation period of 12 to 14 days. Symptoms
begin with a fever and then a rash starts in the buccal and pharyngeal mucosa. Medical
supportive care is recommended as part of the tx protocol for smallpox.
Which supportive care intervention by the nurse has the highest priority?