High-altitude illness.
Travel to a high altitude requires that the human body acclimatize to hypobaric hypoxia. Failure to acclimatize results in three common but preventable maladies known collectively as high-altitude illness: acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE), and high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). Capillary leakage in the brain (AMS/HACE) or lungs (HAPE) accounts for these syndromes. The morbidity and mortality associated with high-altitude illness are significant and unfortunate, given they are preventable. Practitioners working in or advising those traveling to a high altitude must be familiar with the early recognition of symptoms, prompt and appropriate therapy, and proper preventative measures for high-altitude illness.
Gallagher
Scott A
SA
Department of Emergency Medicine, Aspen Valley Hospital, CO 81611, USA. docgliv@excite.com
Hackett
Peter H
PH
D000064:Acclimatization; D000208:Acute Disease; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009051:Mountaineering; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy