A nurse is preparing to administer amoxicillin 2 gm/day PO divided into two doses.

The amount available is amoxicillin 500 mg tablets.

How many tablets should the nurse administer with each dose?

Choice A rationale:

Waiting to see if the fever gets worse is not the best course of action. Fever is a symptom that the body is fighting off an infection, and it can cause discomfort in children. However, the main concern with chickenpox and fever is not the fever itself, but the risk of complications from the chickenpox. Therefore, it’s important to manage the fever for the child’s comfort but also monitor for any signs of complications.

Choice B rationale:

Aspirin should not be given to children or teenagers who have chickenpox or flu symptoms before a doctor is consulted about Reye’s Syndrome, a rare but serious illness. Reye’s syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition that has been associated with aspirin use in children and adolescents with viral illnesses, especially chickenpox or influenza.

Choice C rationale:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) should be used to reduce his fever, not aspirin. This is because of the risk of Reye’s syndrome associated with aspirin use in children and adolescents who have viral illnesses. Acetaminophen is a safe and effective choice for fever reduction in children.

Choice D rationale:

While it’s important to always follow the instructions on the bottle when giving medication, aspirin should not be used in children or teenagers with chickenpox due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome. Therefore, this advice could potentially lead to a dangerous situation.

Choice A rationale:

Acyclovir is an antiviral medication used to treat infections caused by certain types of viruses. It is primarily used for the treatment of herpes simplex virus infections, chickenpox, and shingles. However, it is not typically used as an anti-HIV drug.

Choice B rationale:

Ribavirin is an antiviral medication used to treat hepatitis C and certain other viral infections. While it has broad-spectrum antiviral activity, it is not specifically used to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Choice C rationale:

Foscarnet is an antiviral medication used to treat or prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in individuals with AIDS. It is also used to treat cold sores and genital herpes. However, it is not the first-line choice for preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Choice D rationale:

Zidovudine, also known as AZT, is an antiretroviral medication used to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. It is generally safe for use during pregnancy and is commonly used to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV12. It works by inhibiting the reverse transcriptase enzyme, thereby blocking viral replication. The use of Zidovudine and other antiretroviral drugs in pregnant women with HIV has significantly reduced the rate of mother-to-child transmission of the virus.