Which of the following is a key sign of shock in pediatric patients?

In pediatric patients, a key sign of shock is increased heart rate. This physiological response, known as tachycardia, occurs as the body attempts to compensate for decreased circulating blood volume or decreased perfusion to vital organs. The heart beats faster to maintain cardiac output and meet tissue oxygen demands even when blood pressure may begin to fall.

While altered mental status, hypotension, and cold extremities are also important signs that could indicate shock, they may not appear until the shock has progressed. For instance, hypotension is often a late sign of shock in children, as they can maintain blood pressure through compensatory mechanisms longer than adults. Cold extremities can indicate poor perfusion but are not as immediate or direct a measure of cardiac response to inadequate blood flow as an increased heart rate. Recognizing tachycardia early can prompt timely interventions to address the underlying cause of shock and potentially prevent further complications.