The clinical and laboratory features vary with the cause and may include:
(1) fever, with a temperature > 38.5°C
(2) chest pain
(3) cough
(4) tachypnea
(5) wheezing and bronchospasm
(6) chills
(7) hypoxemia
(9) leukocytosis
(9) deterioration of pulmonary function tests
(10) imaging findings may include:
(10a) presence of a new pulmonary infiltrate involving at least 1 complete lung segment and/or
(10b) a perfusion defect on radionuclide imaging study of the chest
Criteria for the diagnosis of acute chest syndrome (Castro et al, pages 643 and 644):
(1) presence of respiratory signs and symptoms
(1a) pleuritic chest pain
(1b) fever
(1c) rales on lung auscultation
(1d) wheezing, dyspnea and/or cough
(2) presence of one or both of the following:
(2a) radiographic evidence of a new infiltrate on chest X-ray
(2b) perfusion defect on a ventilation-perfusion scan
