Consultant for Pediatricians.

Pages: 1 2

Blister on Toddler's Foot: Burn? Blistering Disease? Abuse?

By Gregory Wallace, DO | June 19, 2012

Dr Wallace is a Hospitalist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati.

An 18-month-old boy was brought to an indigent care clinic with a blister on his foot. His mother stated that she had cared for the child the prior evening and that no blister was present at that time. She reported that her teenage daughter had dressed the boy before the mother brought him to daycare that morning. The stated concern was that something had happened to the child at the daycare center to cause the injury.

When the mother was pressed for more details, she remembered that the child was crying as she left the house and also as she left him at daycare. This was not unusual but, in retrospect, she thought the child had been crying more than was customary.

A call was made to the daycare center. The daycare worker commented that the child had been more irritable than usual all day. The worker also recalled that the child had fallen asleep at naptime with his shoes on. There was no history of trauma.

Do you think this child has been abused?

Click here for answer and discussion

Pages: 1 2

Next

Join the Conversation

Want to join the conversation? If you're a healthcare professional, we'd like to hear your comments. Just sign in or register today to become part of our growing, online community.

Email me when someone comments on this article.

More Related Cases

Possible Choking Injury: Child Abuse—or Mimic?

Bite Mark on Boy’s Arm: Child Abuse—or Mimic?

Child Abuse — or Mimic? Suspicious Bruises: An Old Story with a Twist

Swollen Red Toe: Child Abuse—or Mimic?

Blister on Toddler's Foot: Burn? Blistering Disease? Abuse?

Child Abuse—or Mimic? Retinal Hemorrhages in an Infant

Retinal Hemorrhages in an Infant: Abuse—or Mimic? Quiz of the Week

Molluscum Contagiosum

Child Abuse Injuries Incidence Up or Down?

BLOG FOR CONSULTANTLIVE

Send us your blogs! Contact us for more information if you are interested in writing a post or becoming a blogger.

TOPIC INDEX

Developmental/Genetic

Nutritional/Metabolic

ABOUT OUR BLOGGERS

	On Health and Mental Health Erik R. Vanderlip, MD, is a senior fellow and acting instructor in the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry. As a dually-trained family physician and psychiatrist, Dr Vanderlip is active in national health system redesign efforts with a particular interest in newer models of the medical home. He practices family medicine in a hybrid primary care clinic within a mental health center in Seattle.
	The HIV-AIDS Observer Rodger D. MacArthur, MD, is Professor of Medicine, Wayne State University, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Director and Site Principal Investigator, Wayne State University HIV/AIDS Clinical Research Unit.
	Speaking of Pain Steven A. King, MD, MS, is in the private practice of pain medicine in New York, and he is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine, New York.
	Tales Doctors Tell David T Nash, MD, is Clinical Professor of Medicine at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, New York. The author of more than 250 peer-reviewed clinical articles, Dr Nash has practiced cardiology in Syracuse for over 50 years. He is a Fellow of the National Lipid Association.
	Primary Care Matters Gregory W. Rutecki, MD, is Professor of Medicine at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in Mobile. He is section editor of the hypertension topic center on this web site.
	Practice Makes Perfect Pamela Wible, MD, pioneered the first community-designed ideal medical clinic in America. An expert in patient-centered care, Dr Wible helps citizens design cutting-edge clinics and hospitals nationwide. Her model is taught in medical schools and featured in Harvard School of Public Health's newest edition of Renegotiating Health Care. Dr. Wible is a medical reporter for the Oregonian, has been interviewed by CNN, ABC, CBS, and is a frequent guest on NPR.