Which of the following findings would most likely indicate a respiratory infection?

Increased pulse rate can indicate a respiratory infection because it reflects the body's response to an infection, including respiratory conditions. When the body encounters an infectious agent, it mounts an immune response that often elevates the heart rate as it tries to pump more oxygenated blood to tissues that may require it to fight off the infection. This increased demand for oxygen can be particularly relevant in respiratory infections where the body may struggle to get adequate oxygen due to inflammation or fluid in the lungs.

Other symptoms such as anxiety, neuropathy, and nausea may occur in various medical conditions but are not specific indicators of a respiratory infection. Anxiety can arise from many stressors, neuropathy is often related to nerve damage or disorders, and nausea is associated with gastrointestinal issues or systemic conditions. While these symptoms might appear alongside respiratory infections in some cases, they do not serve as direct indicators of the infection itself like an increased pulse rate does.