Shock is a pathological state characterised by an insufficient perfusion which leads to the inadequate delivery of oxygen to tissues. Shock in children can be classified in 5 main categories: hypovolemic, distributive, cardiogenic, obstructive and dissociative. There are 3 subcategories of distributive shock: septic, neurogenic and anaphylactic. Depending on the presence of compensatory mechanisms, shock can be divided in 3 stages known as compensatory, hypotensive and irreversible shock. The most common types of shock in pediatric population are hypovolemic and septic shock. The most frequent causes of shock include prolonged diarrhoea, heavy bleeding, bacterial and viral infections. Myocarditis, pathological heart rhythms, pericardial tamponade and congenital anomalies may also lead to shock but are less frequently found among paediatric patients. The approach to a patient in a state of shock starts with the ABC and PAT principles. During shock patients are usually in a bad general condition, they suffer from tachycardia (the exception is cardiogenic shock) and tachypnoea. Their skin has an abnormal colour, temperature and moisture and they suffer from qualitative and/ or quantitative disorders of the central nervous system. Hypotension usually develops in the late stages of shock in children. The progression of shock might lead to the formation of petechiae, meningeal signs, oliguria, anuria and MODS that might be the imminent cause of a lethal outcome. Therapy should be administered considering the patient’s state and the type of shock. The first line of therapy consists of intravenously applied fluids. Among the drugs used in the First therapeutic step are antibiotics for septic and adrenalin for anaphylactic shock. Vasopressors are administered as second line therapy drugs while corticosteroids are used in the third line of therapy.