Nasal flaring indicates what in a patient?

• A. Hypoglycemia
• B. Respiratory distress
• C. Dehydration
• D. Hypertension

Answer: (B)

Nasal flaring shows the patient is working hard to breathe. When airway resistance is increased or there’s partial obstruction, the nostrils widen with each breath to try to draw in more air. This is a classic sign of respiratory distress, especially in infants and young children who depend more on nasal breathing. It often appears with other indicators of breathing difficulty.

It isn’t a sign of low blood sugar, dehydration, or high blood pressure. Those conditions have different hallmark signs—hypoglycemia with shakiness or confusion, dehydration with dry mucous membranes and poor skin turgor, hypertension with elevated blood pressure.