Which of the following is NOT a sign of respiratory distress?

• A. Fever
• B. Nasal flaring
• C. Tripod position
• D. Shortness of breath

Answer: (A)

Recognizing signs of respiratory distress. Signs that someone is struggling to breathe reflect increased work of breathing and airway effort. Nasal flaring shows the body trying to pull in more air through narrowed passages. A tripod position—leaning forward with arms braced—is a classic way people recruit accessory muscles to expand the chest and ease breathing. Shortness of breath is the subjective feeling or observable cue that breathing is difficult. Fever, by contrast, is a systemic response to infection and does not by itself indicate that the person is currently in distress with breathing. It may accompany a respiratory illness, but it isn’t a direct sign of respiratory effort.