It is most commonly associated with sepsis, a severe allergic reaction and head or spinal injury. When blood volume is not adequately distributed to the necessary organs and tissues, distributive shock occurs. Accordingly, hypovolemic shock is a major cause of infant mortality.Ĭlinical signs of hypovolemic shock include rapid breathing and or heart rate, abnormally low blood pressure, weak peripheral pulses, cool pale skin, increased urine output and changes in mental status. The leading cause of shock worldwide is hypovolemia-or loss of blood volume-due to diarrhea. Hypovolemic shock generally results from diarrhea, vomiting, poor fluid intake, hemorrhage, heat stroke or burns. The four basic types of shock include hypovolemic, distributive, cardiogenic and obstructive shock. Clinicians with the PALS certification develop a keen understanding of the causes, types and varying degrees of shock in children to effectively and efficiently respond in an emergency situation. Acutely ill children are particularly vulnerable to shock because their small body size limits the amount of reserve they have, which may be insufficient to meet the physiological demands of the trauma or illness.Ī critical component of the pediatric advanced life support (PALS) protocol is recognizing the signs and symptoms of shock in child or infant patients. The physiological response to such damage, often stemming from loss of blood volume or other trauma, results in a cascade of events that can lead to multiple organ system failure and, in some cases, death.

Shock is a general term used to describe the clinical condition that results from damage to any or all tissue and/or organs in the body. Signs and Symptoms of Shock in Children and Infants

Brisk capillary refill