Question

-Discuss the risk for A.L’s unborn child for infection with varicella.

-Discuss prevention and treatment strategies that can be used to prevent varicella infection in each of these individuals.

- What strategies should be used to protect other household family members?

- Identify whether prevention strategies for A.L., her son and fetus stimulate passive or active immune responses.

- How can it be determined if an individual has immunity to varicella?

Answer 1

1. A.L. is at high risk of varicella-zoster virus infection because she is not immunised and in her second pregnancy as vaccination against chickenpox is not recommended during pregnancy,

If the mother develops chickenpox during pregnancy, she might be at the risk of pneumonia

2. A.L s son is not at all under risk for varicella infection since he took both initial and the booster dose of vaccine. Almost 99 % of children develop immunity after taking two recommended dose while some vaccinated children develop chicken pox but in a milder form (fewer blisters, low fever and more rapid recovery).

3. if varicella zoster infection occurs before 20 weeks of pregnancy baby is at risk of serious birth defects known as congenital varicella syndrome(skin scarring, and underdeveloped arms and legs, inflammation of the eyes, and incomplete brain development). If chickenpox develops during 4-5 days antepartum to 48 hours postpartum, the neonate might be born with a potentially life-threatening infection called neonatal varicella( may occur death).

4.for A.L, as she is not immunized earlier and through her pregnancy, health care provider might recommend an injection of an immune globulin product that contains antibodies to the chickenpox virus. When given within 10 days of exposure, the immune globulin can prevent chickenpox or reduce its severity.

for son, he took the preventive method by taking the vaccine against chickenpox.

children should be immunized with the varicella zoster vaccine to prevent chickenpox usually after the age of 1 and booster dose typically given at the age between 4 to 5.