Signs and symptoms of a sickle cell crisis include:

• A. Pain and swelling of joints or bones
• B. Hyperactivity and rapid weight gain
• C. Rash and lymphadenopathy
• D. Increased appetite and weight gain

Answer: (A)

A vaso-occlusive event drives the most common sickle cell crisis, producing sudden, severe pain from tissue ischemia when misformed red blood cells obstruct small vessels. That pain often accompanies swelling in bones or joints because the blocked blood flow causes inflammation and fluid buildup in the affected areas. In infants, this mechanism can cause dactylitis, or swelling of the hands and feet, which is a classic sign of a crisis.

The other symptom patterns don’t fit this scenario. Hyperactivity with rapid weight gain isn’t a characteristic response to a sickle cell crisis. Rash and lymphadenopathy point more toward infection or an unrelated inflammatory process than a typical vaso-occlusive crisis. Increased appetite and weight gain are not features of a crisis, which is driven by acute pain and vascular occlusion rather than metabolic changes.