Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

Which symptom is NOT commonly associated with neurogenic shock?

1. Hypotension

2. Bradycardia

3. Fever

4. Lack of sweating below the injury

The correct answer is: Fever

Neurogenic shock is characterized by a sudden loss of sympathetic nervous system signals, typically following a spinal cord injury. This type of shock leads to a variety of symptoms due to the body's inability to regulate blood pressure and heart rate appropriately. Hypotension, or low blood pressure, occurs because the loss of sympathetic tone leads to vasodilation, causing blood vessels to widen and blood pressure to drop. Bradycardia, or slowed heart rate, is also a common finding, as the parasympathetic nervous system takes over in the absence of sympathetic stimulation. Another symptom often observed with neurogenic shock is the lack of sweating below the level of the injury. This occurs because the sympathetic pathways that control sweating are disrupted, leading to an inability to sweat in the affected areas. In contrast, fever is not a typical symptom of neurogenic shock. While it can occur for various reasons, the absence of sympathetic tone does not directly lead to an increase in body temperature. Therefore, identifying fever as not commonly associated with neurogenic shock highlights the specific physiological changes that occur due to the loss of sympathetic nervous system activity.