A 9-year-old boy presents with pruritic inflammatory lesions. Which prevention strategy can help minimize symptoms?

Avoiding rubbing or scratching is crucial in managing pruritic inflammatory lesions, especially in a pediatric patient. When a child scratches or rubs the affected areas, it can exacerbate the inflammation and lead to secondary infections. This action disrupts the skin's barrier and can worsen the condition, making symptoms more severe and prolonging the healing process. Therefore, encouraging methods to minimize scratching can effectively help manage and alleviate the boy’s symptoms.

In contrast, limiting sun exposure, taking hot baths, and consuming hot liquids do not directly address the underlying issue of pruritus. In fact, hot baths can increase inflammation and exacerbate itching, while hot liquids could potentially raise body temperature and induce sweating, which might worsen discomfort. Thus, avoiding rubbing or scratching stands out as the most effective prevention strategy for this scenario.