Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Caring for Clients With Skin, Hair, and Nail Disorders Related

Review Timby's Introductory Medical-Surgical Nursing Thirteenth, North American Edition - Caring for Clients With Skin, Hair, and Nail Disorders related questions and content

The nurse is providing instruction to a client newly diagnosed with herpes zoster. Which two medications does the nurse anticipate to reduce pain and severity of disease symptoms?

  • A. Acyclovir and prednisone
  • B. Penicillin and Tylenol
  • C. Keflex and Benadryl
  • D. Zostavax and ibuprofen
Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The nurse is correct to instruct the client that medications prescribed to care for an outbreak of shingles include acyclovir (most frequently prescribed medication for shingles) and prednisone, a corticosteroid. Oral acyclovir, when taken within 48 hours of the appearance of symptoms, reduces the severity and prevents the development of additional lesions. Also, a brief course of corticosteroids reduces pain. Additional treatments include antipruritic and analgesic medications but are not as important as the acyclovir.