The following symptoms and complaints may indicate shock:
Leading symptoms
- Hypotension (drop in blood pressure)? systolic < 100 mmHgNote: A child in shock may have normal blood pressure.
- Tachycardia? (heartbeat too fast: > 100 beats per minute).
Associated symptoms
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath), dysphonia (hoarseness), airway obstruction (airway narrowing).
- Disturbances of consciousness
- Paleness
- Angina pectoris (“chest tightness”; sudden pain in the region of the heart)
- Thirst
- Neck vein congestion
- Skin symptoms such as redness, wheals, etc.
- Cold sweat
- Oliguria? (urine output max. 500 ml/day).
- Palpitations (heart palpitations)
- Vertigo (dizziness)
- Tachypnea? increased respiratory rate.
- Central cyanosis? Blue discoloration of the skin and central mucous membranes/tongue.
Anaphylactic shock see below “anaphylactic shock”
Cardiogenic shock see below “cardiogenic shock”
