ACUTE CHEST SYNDROME
It occurs due to vaso-occlusion of pulmonary vessels leading to infarction and pulmonary sequestration. Superadded infection complicates the issue. It is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in children under 3 years of age.
- It is a life-threatening crisis
- Occlusion of the pulmonary blood vessels
- Dyspnea/tachypnea, fever, infiltrates on X-ray, hypoxia, high WBCs
- Often difficult to distinguish from pneumonia
Treatment: a) Analgesia b) O2 c) Transfusion d) Antibiotics (empirically)