What symptom is often associated with acute chest syndrome in sickle cell patients besides chest pain?

Acute chest syndrome is a serious complication of sickle cell disease characterized by chest pain, fever, coughing, and often respiratory distress. One important symptom that is frequently observed alongside acute chest syndrome is leukocytosis, which is an elevated white blood cell count.

Leukocytosis occurs as part of the body's inflammatory response to infection or other stressors, which is common in individuals experiencing acute chest syndrome. This could be due to underlying infections, such as pneumonia, that can exacerbate the symptoms related to the sickle cell disease. The presence of increased white blood cells indicates an immune response that is attempting to combat these infections, which are a common precipitating factor for acute chest syndrome.

In contrast, the other symptoms listed do not have a direct association with acute chest syndrome in sickle cell patients. Hypothermia and hypoglycemia are not typical responses seen in this scenario, while hematuria is related to renal involvement and complications that are not specifically indicative of acute chest syndrome. Thus, leukocytosis stands out as a relevant and crucial finding in this clinical situation.