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High Altitude SicknessAka: Acute Mountain Sickness

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  1. Barometric Pressure
    1. Sea level: 760 mmHg
    2. Ski altitude (9-10,000 feet): 560 mmHg
    3. Kala Pattar (18,187 feet) : 375 mmHg
    4. Mount Everest (29,035 feet): 249 mmHg
  2. High Altitude Effects
    1. High altitude Retinopathy
      1. Retinal hemorrhage at high altitude
      2. Resolves spontaneously in 1-2 weeks at sea level
    2. Sleep at high altitude
      1. Fragmented Sleep Stages
      2. Frequent awakenings
      3. Sleep Apnea
      4. Periodic breathing occurs normally above 3000 meters
    3. Physical wasting above 18,000 feet
      1. Weight loss
      2. Increased lethargy
      3. Muscle Weakness
      4. Polycythemia
      5. Acclimatization above 18,000 feet offers no benefit
    4. High altitude Pharyngitis or Bronchitis
      1. Cough results from respiratory irritation at altitude
      2. Reduced with throat lozenges
    5. Peripheral edema
    6. Thrombosis (higher Incidence at altitude)
    7. Immune suppression
      1. Infections common and difficult to treat at altitude
      2. T Lymphocyte depression
      3. Descend for refractory infectious symptoms and signs
  3. Symptoms
    1. Common Symptoms
      1. Headache
      2. Malaise
      3. Anorexia
    2. Other Symptoms
      1. Fatigue
      2. Nausea or Vomiting
      3. Insomnia
      4. Dyspnea
      5. Dyspnea on Exertion
      6. Dry cough
      7. Irritable
      8. Decreased urine output
  4. Differential Diagnosis
    1. Viral illness
    2. Hangover
    3. Exhaustion
    4. Dehydration
    5. Hypothermia
    6. Medication: Sedative or hypnotic
    7. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
  5. Management
    1. Descent
    2. Oxygen
    3. Gamow Bag
  6. Complications
    1. High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)
    2. High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)
  7. Prevention
    1. Medication Prophylaxis
      1. Acetazolamide (Diamox)
    2. General Pointers
      1. Recognize the symptoms of Acute mountain sickness
      2. Never ascend to sleep higher if you have symptoms
      3. Descend if symptoms do not resolve or worsen
      4. Never leave a person with altitude sickness alone
      5. Maintain hydration
      6. Sleep <3000 feet higher than the night before
      7. Spend an additional day if ascent over 2000 feet
      8. Avoid overexertion
      9. Avoid Alcohol and sedatives

Acute mountain sickness (C0238284)

ConceptsDisease or Syndrome (T047)
EnglishACOSTA SYNDROME, Acosta's disease, Acute mountain sickness, Soroche
Spanishapunamiento, enfermedad aguda de la montana, enfermedad de Acosta, mal de las montanas, soroche
Parent ConceptsAltitude Sickness (C0002351), Acute respiratory disease (C0264219), Acute disease of cardiovascular system (C1290379), Acute metabolic disorder (C1290840)
SourcesDXP, SCTSPA, SNOMEDCT
Derived from the NIH UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)



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