Which of the following is a key indicator of cholecystitis?

A key indicator of cholecystitis is the presence of fever and leukocytosis. Cholecystitis is the inflammation of the gallbladder, often due to a blockage of the cystic duct by gallstones. This blockage can lead to infection, which triggers the body's inflammatory response. Fever is a common systemic response to infection, while leukocytosis—a notable increase in white blood cell count—is indicative of the body's effort to fight off the inflammatory process, generally present in cases of acute cholecystitis.

In assessing conditions related to the gallbladder, it is crucial to recognize that while pain after eating can occur, it is not as definitive a marker as fever and leukocytosis for cholecystitis. Fluctuating blood sugar levels and high blood pressure do not have a direct correlation with cholecystitis and are not expected symptoms in this context. Instead, they are associated with other conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular issues, which do not focus on gallbladder inflammation.