ARRT Patient Care Practice Exam

What symptom is NOT typically associated with shock?

1. Pallor

2. Persistent fever

3. Weakness

4. Increased pulse

The correct answer is: Persistent fever

In the context of shock, symptoms typically arise due to inadequate blood flow and oxygen delivery to vital organs, which activate compensatory mechanisms in the body. Pallor, weakness, and increased pulse are all common manifestations associated with shock. Pallor occurs because of peripheral vasoconstriction, which shunts blood away from the skin to prioritize vital organs. Weakness can result from reduced perfusion to muscles and fatigue from the body dealing with the stress of shock. In response to decreased blood flow and oxygen, the heart rate tends to increase to maintain cardiac output, leading to an increased pulse. On the other hand, persistent fever is not generally associated with shock. While fever might indicate infection or inflammation, it does not align with the physiological responses typically seen in shock. Shock is more often characterized by hypothermia or a normal body temperature unless there is an underlying infection leading to septic shock, which is a specific type of shock rather than a general symptom. Therefore, persistent fever stands out as an atypical symptom in this context.