A patient presents with extremely pale skin. His family states that this is not his normal skin color. His vital signs are pulse 108, respirations 18, blood pressure 102/86, and SpO₂ 96% Which one of the following complaints would make the most sense given this clinical presentation?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient's presentation is most consistent with anemia, which can result in pale skin. A possible cause of anemia is rectal bleeding, which could also explain the patient's low blood pressure. The other options (persistent cough, fever, headache) are not strongly associated with anemia or pale skin.

A Patient Presents with Extremely Pale Skin