The nurse plans discharge teaching for a client with active herpes lesions who has a new prescription for oral acyclovir and topical lidocaine. What information will the nurse include in the teaching plan?

Question

The nurse plans discharge teaching for a client with active herpes lesions who has a new prescription for oral acyclovir and topical lidocaine.  What information will the nurse include in the teaching plan?

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11ecbb05_c9f1_0820_b433_9d023560d85a_MD0009_00 Acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir, and valacyclovir are commonly used to treat herpes infection as they shorten the duration and severity of active lesions. Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection caused by a herpes simplex virus and is highly contagious, especially when lesions are active. It remains dormant in the body even when active lesions are healed. There is no cure for genital herpes; treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms and preventing the spread of infection. Touching the lesions and then rubbing or scratching another part of the body can spread the infection. Therefore, gloves should be used when applying topical antiviral or analgesic (eg, lidocaine) medications. (Option A) Herpetic lesions should be kept clean and dry. They can be cleansed with warm water and soap or other solutions. Bandages are not applied to the lesions. (Option B) There is no cure for herpes infection. Genital herpes often leads to local recurrence. Some clients may need long-term suppressive therapy. (Option C) During periods of active lesions, abstinence from sexual intercourse is indicated. Condoms should be used during periods of dormancy due to viral shedding. Educational objective: Clients should be taught to use gloves when applying topical medication to herpes lesions to avoid the spread of infection. There is no cure for genital herpes infection; recurrences are common. Complete abstinence from sexual intercourse is recommended when active lesions are present as barrier contraception alone is insufficient to prevent the spread of infection.

The Nurse Plans Discharge Teaching for a Client with Active