Which of the following is a symptom of a second degree burn?

Blistering is a key symptom of a second-degree burn, which is classified as a partial-thickness burn affecting both the outer layer of skin (epidermis) and the underlying layer (dermis). The presence of blisters is significant because they form as a natural protective response of the body to damage, helping to safeguard the deeper layers of skin and promote healing.

In the case of second-degree burns, patients typically experience more than just redness and swelling; the damage to the skin results in fluid accumulation beneath the skin layers, creating blisters. This is distinct from first-degree burns, which usually only affect the outer layer and do not produce blisters. Other symptoms of a second-degree burn may include severe pain and swelling, but the formation of blisters is a definitive characteristic that helps to distinguish it from other types of burns.