A mother brings her 7-year-old daughter to her pediatrician's office. It is written in the patient's chart that she is not immunized. The child has approximately 50 lesions, mainly concentrated on her trunk. Most of the lesions are vesicular, but a few have scabbed over. According to the mother, her daughter was previously healthy and developed this rash about five days ago. She denies any fevers and the rash appears to be persistently itchy. The RN observes the child itch open a vesicle, revealing a clear fluid.
-Based upon the patient's symptoms,the most likely diagnosis is ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The symptoms described, including vesicular lesions concentrated on the trunk, persistent itchiness, and clear fluid in the lesions, are classic features of chickenpox. Smallpox has been eradicated and measles typically present with a prodromal phase of fever, cough, and conjunctivitis before the rash appears. Shingles typically presents with a painful, unilateral rash in a dermatomal distribution in an older population.

A Mother Brings Her 7-Year-Old Daughter to Her Pediatrician's Office