Which findings are consistent with early compensated septic shock in a child?

Choice A rationale Decreased urine output (oliguria, typically 90 mmHg in a school-aged child) is the hallmark of compensated shock. Compensatory mechanisms, primarily tachycardia and mild vasoconstriction, are successfully maintaining cardiac output and thus adequate mean arterial pressure, despite underlying circulatory dysfunction. Choice D rationale Tachycardia (elevated heart rate, normal range varies by age, e.g., >130 bpm in a toddler) is one of the earliest and most reliable signs of all forms of shock in children. It represents a critical cardiovascular compensatory mechanism to increase cardiac output (Cardiac Output = Stroke Volume×Heart Rate) in response to systemic vasodilation and early hypovolemia characteristic of sepsis.