Which of the following would NOT be considered a red flag requiring urgent referral?

Which of the following would NOT be considered a red flag requiring urgent referral?

• A. Night pain
• B. Pulsatile abdominal mass
• C. Fever
• D. Pain worse with rest

Answer: (D)

Red flags signal possible serious disease that needs urgent assessment. Night pain raises concern for cancer or infection, so it prompts fast evaluation. A pulsatile abdominal mass is a dangerous sign that could mean an abdominal aortic aneurysm, requiring urgent imaging and referral. Fever points to possible infection or systemic illness, again needing prompt workup.

Pain worse with rest isn’t a standard red flag for urgent referral in this context. Many non-emergency conditions have pain patterns that aren’t specifically worsened by rest, so this symptom alone doesn’t reliably indicate an urgent need for referral.