Which symptom indicates that a child's respiratory pattern may be labored?

The indication that a child's respiratory pattern may be labored is demonstrated through difficulty in drawing breaths. This symptom suggests that the child is experiencing increased work of breathing, which may stem from various underlying conditions such as respiratory infections, asthma, or other obstructive processes.

When a child has difficulty taking in breaths, it often presents as signs of respiratory distress, such as use of accessory muscles, nasal flaring, or retractions. These indicate that the body's demand for oxygen is not being met, prompting the child to exert more effort during each breath. The presence of this symptom is crucial in identifying when immediate medical assessment and intervention may be necessary.

In contrast, regular breathing would typically suggest a calm and stable respiratory function, rapid shallow breaths may indicate anxiety or a less effective ventilatory pattern but do not specifically denote labored breathing. Long periods of apnea may suggest other forms of distress or a medical condition, but they are not directly indicative of labored breathing. Thus, the difficulty in drawing breaths stands out as the clear sign of labored respiration among the choices provided.