Question

The nurse assists in planning care for a child who sustained a burn injury based on which of the following accurate statements?

1. Scarring is not as severe in a child as in an adult.
2. Children are at a lower risk of infection than adults because of their strong immune systems.
3. Lower burn temperatures and shorter exposure to heat can cause a more severe burn in a child than an adult because a child's skin is thinner.
4. Infants and children are at decreased risk for protein and calorie deficiency because they have smaller muscle mass and less body fat than adults

Answer 1

Correct care for a child with a burn injury recognizes that children can suffer severe burns with lower temperatures and shorter exposures because their skin is thinner, and they are at increased risk for infection and nutritional deficiencies due to their delicate condition.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse assists in planning care for a child who sustained a burn injury based on the accurate statement that lower burn temperatures and shorter exposure to heat can cause a more severe burn in a child than an adult because a child's skin is thinner. Children are not at a lower risk of infection; in fact, their burned skin is exceptionally susceptible to bacteria and other pathogens due to the loss of protection by intact skin layers.

Furthermore, infants and children are at an increased risk for protein and calorie deficiency because of their higher metabolic demands and smaller reserves, contrary to having a decreased risk because they have smaller muscle mass and less body fat than adults.