Question

While gathering data about a child's skin integrity, the nurse observes a papular pruritic rash with some vesicles. The rash is profuse on the trunk and sparse on the distal limbs. What does the nurse correlate this finding with?

Answer 1

The nurse's observation of a papular pruritic rash with vesicles concentrated on the trunk indicates chickenpox, a disease characterized by a pustular rash in this region.

Step-by-step explanation:

The observation of a papular pruritic rash with some vesicles that is profuse on the trunk and sparse on the distal limbs correlates with chickenpox, a common childhood disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This is manifested by a characteristic pustular rash concentrated on the trunk region. Other skin conditions such as allergic eczema or contact dermatitis could present similarly but typically would be associated with a history of exposure to an allergen or irritant, like the case of Penny who developed a rash due to a new sunscreen and was treated with a moisturizing cream. While other conditions, such as fifth disease or roseola, also present rashes, they have distinct features: roseola originates on the trunk and spreads outward without causing discomfort, and fifth disease is known for the "slapped cheek" facial rash.