Which of the following is NOT a standard practice for managing a patient with chickenpox?

• A. Isolating the patient to prevent spread of infection
• B. Administering antiviral medication if indicated
• C. Providing supportive care to relieve symptoms
• D. Prescribing antibiotics to treat the viral infection

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the nature of chickenpox, which is a viral infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus. This means that treatment focuses on managing viral symptoms and preventing spread, rather than treating bacterial infections.
2. Step 2: Review standard practices for managing chickenpox, which include isolating the patient to prevent transmission, administering antiviral medications if indicated (especially in severe cases or high-risk patients), and providing supportive care such as fever reducers and soothing skin treatments.
3. Step 3: Recognize that antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, not viral infections like chickenpox. Therefore, prescribing antibiotics is not a standard practice unless there is a secondary bacterial infection.
4. Step 4: Compare each option given in the problem to these standard practices to identify which one does not fit the typical management of chickenpox.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the option involving prescribing antibiotics to treat the viral infection is NOT a standard practice for managing chickenpox, as antibiotics do not target viruses.