A nurse is providing teaching to a parent of a child who has varicella. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?

Rationale: A. "Your child can return to school once the fever has subsided.": The absence of fever does not indicate the child is no longer contagious. The child can still transmit the varicella-zoster virus until all lesions have crusted, even if fever has resolved. B. "Your child can return to school after a negative titer result.": Titer testing is not used to determine contagiousness in active varicella infection. It is typically used to confirm immunity, especially after vaccination or past exposure. C. "Your child can return to school once the lesions have crusted over.": Varicella is contagious until all lesions have crusted, which usually occurs about 5–7 days after the onset of rash. Crusting marks the end of the infectious period, making it safe for the child to return to school. D. "Your child can return to school 24 hours after beginning antibiotics.": Varicella is a viral illness, not treated with antibiotics unless there is a secondary bacterial infection. Antibiotics do not impact the contagious period of the viral illness.