system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 30-month-old boy is brought to the emergency department by his parents. He has burns over his left hand. The mother tells the doctor that the child was playing unobserved in the kitchen and accidentally grabbed a hot spoon, which produced the burn. She also says his pediatrician had expressed concern as to the possibility of autism spectrum disorder during the last visit and had suggested regular follow-up. The boy was born at 39 weeks gestation via spontaneous vaginal delivery. He is up to date on all vaccines and is meeting all developmental milestones. On physical examination, his temperature is 37.0°C (98.6°F), pulse rate is 140/min, and respiratory rate is 28/min. He is irritable and crying excessively. On examination, the skin of the left hand is white-pink with small blisters over the entire dorsal aspect of the hand, but the skin of the palmar surface is undamaged. There is a sharp demarcation between healthy skin above the wrist and the injured skin of the hand. There are no burns or another injury anywhere else on the child. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the burns?
assistant
Forced immersion in hot water