Final answer:
Bilateral ankle swelling is a red flag if it occurs with breathlessness, giddiness, and skin pallor, as these symptoms can indicate more serious conditions requiring medical attention. It's crucial to watch for increased redness, swelling, and pain which can signify infection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bilateral ankle swelling is a red flag if accompanied by symptoms such as breathlessness on exertion, giddiness, and pallor of the skin as these may indicate more serious systemic conditions like heart failure, kidney disease, or deep vein thrombosis. In women of childbearing age, such swelling accompanied by these symptoms could also be a sign of anemia or other conditions, prompting further medical investigation. It's important to monitor for any increase in redness, swelling, and pain after a cut or abrasion because these signs can suggest a developing infection, with the body’s immune system responding to fight off pathogens.