High altitude-related illness - Symptoms, Causes, Images, and Treatment Options

Diseases

Highlights & Basics

Key Highlights

High-altitude illness (HAI) encompasses acute mountain sickness, high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), and high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE). These diseases typically occur in lowland residents following an ascent to high altitude.
Although acute mountain sickness is normally a self-limiting disease, it is associated with the development of HACE.
HAPE and cerebral edema are often fatal if left untreated.
Descent is the most effective form of treatment for all three conditions.
The diagnosis is usually clinical. However, the combination of a remote and hostile environment together with the potential for other medical conditions sometimes makes confirmation of the diagnosis difficult to achieve.

Global incidence of acute mountain sickness

From: Barry PW, Pollard AJ. BMJ. 2003;326:915-919

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Definition

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Global incidence of acute mountain sickness
CXR of high-altitude pulmonary edema

Citations

Key Articles

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Yellow Book 2024: health information for international travel. Section 4: environmental hazards & risks - high elevation travel & altitude illness. May 2023 [internet publication].[Full Text]
Roach RC, Hackett PH, Oelz O, et al. The 2018 lake louise acute mountain sickness score. High Alt Med Biol. 2018 Mar;19(1):4-6.[Abstract][Full Text]
Luks AM, Auerbach PS, Freer L, et al. Wilderness medical society clinical practice guidelines for the prevention and treatment of acute altitude illness: 2019 update. Wilderness Environ Med. 2019 Dec;30(4s):S3-18.[Abstract][Full Text]
Donegani E, Paal P, Küpper T, et al. Drug use and misuse in the mountains: a UIAA MedCom consensus guide for medical professionals. High Alt Med Biol. 2016 Sep;17(3):157-84.[Abstract]
Ritchie ND, Baggott AV, Andrew Todd WT. Acetazolamide for the prevention of acute mountain sickness - a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Travel Med. 2012 Sep-Oct;19(5):298-307.[Abstract][Full Text]

Referenced Articles

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