Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic Certification Practice Exam

Which of the following is an early sign of respiratory distress in pediatric patients?

1. Head bobbing

2. Grunting

3. Retractions

4. Increased heart rate

The correct answer is: Retractions

Retractions are recognized as an early sign of respiratory distress in pediatric patients because they indicate that a child is using extra effort to breathe. When a child experiences difficulty in breathing, their rib muscles and diaphragm might not be sufficient to ventilate the lungs adequately. As a result, the skin between the ribs or above the clavicles may appear to be pulled inward during inhalation. This reflects the child’s struggle to get enough air, signaling that they may require medical intervention. Understanding this, we can see that head bobbing, grunting, and increased heart rate are also significant indicators of respiratory distress, but they typically come into play as the condition worsens. Head bobbing often indicates severe respiratory distress and is more common in very young children. Grunting is associated with more advanced distress as the child attempts to create pressure in the airways to improve oxygenation. An increased heart rate can occur as a physiological response to stress or decreased oxygen levels but is not an early, specific indicator of respiratory distress like retractions are.