What symptom might indicate a severe case of Pneumonia?

• A. Normal blood pressure
• B. Tachycardia
• C. Low body temperature
• D. Clear lungs upon examination

Answer: (B)

Tachycardia, which is an elevated heart rate, can be a significant indicator of a severe case of pneumonia. When pneumonia is severe, it often leads to systemic effects such as increased demand for oxygen due to respiratory distress or heightened metabolic activity to fight off the infection. The body compensates for decreased oxygen availability or increasing respiratory effort by increasing the heart rate. Thus, tachycardia may reflect the body’s response to infection or inflammation, making it an important clinical sign to consider in diagnosing and assessing the severity of pneumonia.

The other symptoms listed do not typically indicate a severe case of pneumonia; normal blood pressure may suggest stability, low body temperature can often indicate a less severe or different response to infection, and clear lungs upon examination would likely suggest the absence of significant respiratory compromise commonly associated with severe pneumonia.