Reference no: EM133976512

Question

Oliver, a 4-year-old boy, was admitted for vomiting and diarrhea for the past 5 days. When he was assessed by the nurse, Oliver was found to have small round burn marks on his upper back and behind his legs. Oliver's skin was very dry, his clothes were dirty, and he had no shoes. The caregiver is his 18- years-old mother, Melissa, who also has three other children under the age of 5. She currently lives in a one-bedroom apartment with her partner, Jacob, who just got out of jail for selling cocaine and carjacking. Melissa indicated that both she and her partner smoke cigarettes. She said they have trouble providing regular meals for their children due to lack of money. Melissa seemed somewhat insensitive to her children, who were crying and asking to be picked up and held. When asked about the marks on Oliver's back, she indicated that her partner, Jacob, was responsible for the cigarette marks, and that this had happened after an argument related to money. She said she was also beaten after trying to stop him from hurting her children.