An older person is admitted to the hospital with an exacerbation of congestive heart failure. The nurse notes that the patient complains of severe itching at night and has a red rash on her torso. The patient is diagnosed with scabies. The patient asks the nurse, "How did I get something like this?" The best response by the nurse is:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Scabies is caused by a tiny burrowing mite and is highly contagious and easily passed by an infected person to family members and others in close contact by direct physical content. It is not limited to older adults, and age-related changes in the skin do not cause it or make a person more susceptible. Individuals with multiple chronic conditions are not more likely to develop scabies than other individuals. There is no evidence that medications can make an individual more susceptible.

An Older Person Is Admitted to the Hospital with an Exacerbation