A 5-year-old in compensated shock due to severe vomiting and diarrhea would show which symptom?

In a case of compensated shock due to severe vomiting and diarrhea, observing a slow capillary refill time is consistent with the body's physiological response to maintain blood pressure and perfusion to vital organs. Compensated shock occurs when the body is still able to maintain adequate blood flow despite the reduction in circulating blood volume.

When a child is in compensated shock, the body employs various mechanisms to maintain perfusion. Blood vessels constrict, which can lead to slowed capillary refill times. In healthy individuals, capillary refill time should be less than two seconds; however, in cases of shock, it can exceed this duration as peripheral circulation decreases.

In contrast, strong, bounding radial pulses would typically indicate good blood volume and pressure, which would not be present in a state of shock. Slow, shallow respirations are also less characteristic of compensated shock, as children may exhibit increased respiratory rates in response to hypoxia or to compensate for metabolic demands. A weakly palpable carotid pulse suggests more severe compromise and is associated with decompensation, which is not the case in compensated shock.

Thus, a slow capillary refill time is the most indicative symptom of a child in compensated shock due to severe vomiting and diarrhea.