ABSTRACT
Necrotising fasciitis (NF) is an infrequent yet significant complication of primary varicella infection in immunocompetent children. We report a case of a 4-year-old girl who presented three days into her chicken pox illness, with a rapidly progressing, severely tender erythematous rash surrounding one chicken pox lesion on her thigh. She required intravenous antibiotics, two surgical debridements, a skin graft and a prolonged stay in the paediatric intensive care unit, but ultimately we were able to save her life and limb. NF is a rare complication of chicken pox that has high morbidity and mortality that requires prompt and specific treatment.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Chickenpox/complications , Fasciitis, Necrotizing/diagnosis , Fasciitis, Necrotizing/therapy , Administration, Intravenous , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Child, Preschool , Debridement , Fasciitis, Necrotizing/etiology , Female , Humans , Immunocompetence , Intensive Care Units, Pediatric , Skin Transplantation , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
It has become an increasingly common practice to treat fever in children with a combination of antipyretics, despite the lack of evidence of clinical benefit. Promoting this practice can potentially worsen "fever phobia", which is widespread and puts children at risk from dosing errors. National guidelines and research evidence recommend treating a child's fever with one type of antipyretic. This article dispels some of the myths associated with paediatric fevers and reviews best practice for treatment. Armed with knowledge of evidence-based practice, nurses are in a position to influence parents and the wider healthcare community and so achieve safer drug administration.
