A 4-Year-Old Boy Is Brought to the Emergency Department by His

question 112

Multiple Choice

A 4-year-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his mother due to an asthma exacerbation.  He has a history of poorly controlled asthma, with nonadherence to medication and follow-up visits.  The mother works 2 jobs to support the family and says she has difficulty bringing the patient to appointments.  On physical examination, a well-demarcated, round burn mark is seen on the patient's thigh.  When asked about the burn, the patient says, "That happens every time I'm bad.  My dad told me."  His mother corrects him and says that it was an accident resulting from the boy "playing with the cigarette lighter in the car."  Which of the following is the best next step in management of this patient?

• A)Arrange for medical hospitalization to ensure the patient's safety
• B)Call security and then ask the mother to leave the room to interview the patient alone
• C)Confront the mother about whether the burns were truly accidental
• D)Contact the patient's father for further information regarding the burn
• E)Notify child protective services

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Definitions:

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