Injuries and wounds: cigarette burns: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Injuries and wounds: cigarette burns

Sample item

A toddler has several round, uniform, punched-out lesions about 8 mm across on the back of the hands, at the same stage of healing. What is the most likely cause?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Inflicted cigarette burns

Cigarette burns are circular, well demarcated, of uniform size and depth, and the back of the hands and feet are favoured sites in abuse. Accidental contact usually produces a single, glancing, tailed mark. Impetigo has honey-coloured crusts and different distribution.

Option by option

  • A. Eczema herpeticum

    Eczema herpeticum gives clustered vesicles on eczematous skin.

  • B. Accidental contact with a hot iron

    A hot iron would leave a larger patterned burn in the shape of the iron.

  • C. Impetigo

    Impetigo gives crusted lesions with golden crusts and varying sizes.

  • D. Inflicted cigarette burns (correct)

    Correct. Uniform circular punched-out lesions of 8 mm suggest cigarette burns.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Forensic Medicine questions

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is D, Inflicted cigarette burns. Cigarette burns are circular, well demarcated, of uniform size and depth, and the back of the hands and feet are favoured sites in abuse.

Why is "Eczema herpeticum" not the answer?

Eczema herpeticum gives clustered vesicles on eczematous skin.

Why is "Accidental contact with a hot iron" not the answer?

A hot iron would leave a larger patterned burn in the shape of the iron.

Why is "Impetigo" not the answer?

Impetigo gives crusted lesions with golden crusts and varying sizes.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Injuries and wounds: cigarette burns in Forensic Medicine. Accidental contact usually produces a single, glancing, tailed mark. Impetigo has honey-coloured crusts and different distribution.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Injuries and wounds: cigarette burns?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.