Stuff I didn't think I'd deal with much in the high school...

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

I had a student come to me today with a rash that started one day ago. Started on the trunk and was now spreading to his arms and legs. One looked like a blister, but it was just above his butt, and I wasn't comfortable with looking without someone else there. I took his word for it. Had the varicella vax about two weeks ago.

Of course, sent him home and had mom make an appt, she was able to get one for the afternoon.

I get a call at 3:30 that yeah, dude has chicken pox. :uhoh21:

My biggest concern?

The pregnant classmate of his!!! :bugeyes: :no:

Of course, at this point the guidance office is closed so I can't get in to see her records. If it matches what they had entered into the system, she hasn't had the vax. Unknown if she has a history of the disease. Tomorrow is a holiday, so I can't do much then. Luckily, since I work at the health dept, I can hopefully talk to prenatal. I am 98% sure she is a patient there. I doubt we can share much in terms of her history or information, but I can find out what, if anything, can be done at this point. He left before the class he shares with her today, but since it's contagious BEFORE symptoms start, she could have been exposed Friday.

So, I knew at some point I would have to deal with varicella, but didn't even think about the impact it'd have on my pregnant students!

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
I had a student come to me today with a rash that started one day ago. Started on the trunk and was now spreading to his arms and legs. One looked like a blister, but it was just above his butt, and I wasn't comfortable with looking without someone else there. I took his word for it. Had the varicella vax about two weeks ago.

Of course, sent him home and had mom make an appt, she was able to get one for the afternoon.

I get a call at 3:30 that yeah, dude has chicken pox. :uhoh21:

My biggest concern?

The pregnant classmate of his!!! :bugeyes: :no:

Of course, at this point the guidance office is closed so I can't get in to see her records. If it matches what they had entered into the system, she hasn't had the vax. Unknown if she has a history of the disease. Tomorrow is a holiday, so I can't do much then. Luckily, since I work at the health dept, I can hopefully talk to prenatal. I am 98% sure she is a patient there. I doubt we can share much in terms of her history or information, but I can find out what, if anything, can be done at this point. He left before the class he shares with her today, but since it's contagious BEFORE symptoms start, she could have been exposed Friday.

So, I knew at some point I would have to deal with varicella, but didn't even think about the impact it'd have on my pregnant students!

Yipe! I wouldn't have thought of having to deal with this either!

No way to reach her or her family, I guess?

How does confidentiality come into play here? You would just say "a student" I guess?

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.
Yipe! I wouldn't have thought of having to deal with this either!

No way to reach her or her family, I guess?

How does confidentiality come into play here? You would just say "a student" I guess?

HIPAA says I shouldn't tell the prenatal clinic who the patient is. I should be able to just ask about it and not give away enough information about who it is. I have 8 pregnant at my high school, so even if they know which school I'm at, it doesn't narrow it down much. LOL

My biggest barrier is language. The student doesn't speak much english. Not sure how much the parents speak. Luckily, we have interpreters!

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Specializes in Alzheimer's, Geriatrics, Chem. Dep..
HIPAA says I shouldn't tell the prenatal clinic who the patient is. I should be able to just ask about it and not give away enough information about who it is. I have 8 pregnant at my high school, so even if they know which school I'm at, it doesn't narrow it down much. LOL

My biggest barrier is language. The student doesn't speak much english. Not sure how much the parents speak. Luckily, we have interpreters!

Wow that's tough! Good luck w/ it! Let us know how it pans out!

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Here is the CDC website:

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/varicella/vac-faqs-clinic-preg.htm

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Specializes in Cath Lab, OR, CPHN/SN, ER.

Thanks! I am praying at this point she has a history of the disease. I'm going to call her down first thing tomorrow and we'll call the health dept together. They'll probably have her come in and have a titer drawn. I know I'm over-reacting, but this is BIG to me. :uhoh21:

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