Blood pressure readings are a reliable indicator of shock in children.

• A. True
• B. Not reliable
• C. False
• D. In children, readings may vary

Answer: (C)

In children, shock can be present even when blood pressure is normal. They often compensate by increasing heart rate and peripheral vascular resistance to maintain blood pressure, so a child can be in a life-threatening state with a normal reading. That makes blood pressure a late and unreliable sign of shock in kids.

Focus on perfusion and mental status instead: a fast or weak pulse, cool or mottled skin, delayed capillary refill (over 2 seconds), restlessness or lethargy, and decreased urine output are red flags of poor perfusion even if the blood pressure looks acceptable. Blood pressure tends to fall only in later, decompensated stages of shock, so relying on it alone can miss early warning signs.

Measurement issues can also affect accuracy—incorrect cuff size, improper placement, or recent activity can skew readings. So the best approach is to assess overall perfusion and clinical signs rather than depend on blood pressure alone.