The nurse provides instructions to the mother of a child with mumps regarding respiratory precautions, and the mother asks the nurse about the length of time required for the respiratory precautions. The nurse should make which statement to the mother?
a) "Precautions are not necessary once the swelling appears."b) "Precautions are not necessary before the swelling begins."c) "Precautions are indicated during the period of communicability."d) "Precautions are indicated for 20 days following the onset of parotid swelling."

c) "Precautions are indicated during the period of communicability.

Explanation:

The respiratory precautions apply to the patients suspected to be infected by the microorganisms transmitted through airborne droplet. The infected patients can affect other individuals. The measles is a viral infection thus the virus can spread through nasal droplets.

The period of communicability can be defined as the duration during which the infectious agent may be transferred from an affected infected person to another person. In this period the chances of spread of infection to the community becomes prominent.

Based on the above description, the respiratory precautions are required to be taken by the child affected with mumps to prevent the period of communicability.