home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
CD-ROM Today (UK) (Spanish) 15
/
CDRT.iso
/
dp
/
0401
/
04010.txt
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1994-01-17
|
6KB
|
159 lines
$Unique_ID{BRK04010}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Mountain Sickness, Acute}
$Subject{Mountain Sickness, Acute AMS Mountain Sickness High Altitude Illness
Hypoxia Puna Soroche Mareo High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) High Altitude
Cerebral Edema (HACE) Subacute Infantile Mountain Sickness }
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1989 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
619:
Mountain Sickness, Acute
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible that the main title of the article (Acute Mountain
Sickness) is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to
find the alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
Synonyms
AMS
Mountain Sickness
High Altitude Illness
Hypoxia
Puna
Soroche
Mareo
Disorder Subdivisions:
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)
High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)
Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:
Subacute Infantile Mountain Sickness
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
Acute Mountain Sickness is a group of symptoms that may occur in some
people who ascend rapidly to altitudes higher than 8200 ft. (2500 m). Major
symptoms may include headaches, nausea, vomiting, and insomnia.
Symptoms
Acute Mountain Sickness may occur during the first 8 to 24 hours after a
person reaches a high elevation (altitude). The occurrence, severity, and
duration of Acute Mountain Sickness varies with the rate and ultimate height
of the climb and with an individual's susceptibility. Headache, poor
appetite, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, and poor sleep may occur. There may
be abnormal sounds during breathing (rales), bleeding of the retina (light-
sensitive layer inside the eye), and excess fluid under the skin (peripheral
edema). Decreased urination (oliguria), inability to coordinate voluntary
muscle movements (ataxia), and impaired thinking may also occur. Severe
(Chronic) Mountain Sickness patients may develop oxygen-deficient tissues
(hypoxia) and excessive amounts of red blood cells (polycythemia).
Causes
Symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness occur because there is less oxygen at
higher altitudes, and the body's tissues receive less oxygen. People may be
susceptible to Acute Mountain Sickness if their cells need more oxygen than
normal or if they cannot tolerate decreased oxygen levels at high altitudes.
People that urinate infrequently are especially susceptible to Acute Mountain
Sickness.
Affected Population
Acute Mountain Sickness affects males and females in equal numbers when they
ascend to high altitudes very rapidly.
Related Disorders
Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Acute Mountain
Sickness. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis:
Subacute Infantile Mountain Sickness is a severe disorder of infants. It
may occur when infants are born at low altitudes and then taken to higher
elevations. Thickening of the arteries to the lungs and enlargement of their
openings may occur. There may also be thickening and enlargement of the
cavities of the heart.
The following disorders may be associated with Acute Mountain Sickness as
secondary characteristics. They are not necessary for a differential
diagnosis:
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) is a severe complication of Acute
Mountain Sickness which involves high levels of fluids, proteins and cells in
the lung. Symptoms may include breathing difficulties, coughing, abnormal
sounds during breathing, and rapid heart beat. The skin may turn blue or
purple (cyanosis). Headaches, vomiting, memory problems, disorientation,
loss of consciousness, bleeding of the retina, and excessive fluid in the
optic disks (papilledema) may also occur.
High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) is a severe consequence of Acute
Mountain Sickness which involves extra fluid in the brain. It may occur when
the central nervous system is deprived of oxygen. Symptoms may include
headaches, inability to coordinate voluntary muscle movements (ataxia), and
loss of consciousness. Double vision (diplopia), visual and auditory
(hearing) hallucinations, and papilledema may also occur.
Therapies: Standard
Descending from a high altitude is the most successful treatment for Acute
Mountain Sickness. For mild cases, rest, frequent small meals, no alcohol,
and acetaminophen for headache may be all that is needed. Dexamethasone, an
anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic drug, and the diuretic acetazolamide may
be used for more severe cases. To prevent Acute Mountain Sickness , a slow
climb, staying 2 to 5 days at a middle altitude (staging), or the use of the
drug dexamethasone or acetazolamide may be recommended.
Therapies: Investigational
Researchers are investigating oxygen therapy and the combination of
dexamethasone and acetazolamide for the treatment of Acute Mountain Sickness.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
April 1989. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
current information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Acute Mountain Sickness, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Public Affairs Office
P.O. Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
(919) 541-3345
References
CURRENT CONCEPTS: ACUTE MOUNTAIN SICKNESS: T.S. Johnson, et al.; N Engl J
Med (September 29, 1988: issue 319(13)). Pp. 841-845.
CLINICAL FEATURES OF PATIENTS WITH HIGH-ALTITUDE PULMONARY EDEMA IN
JAPAN: T. Kobayashi et al.; Chest (November, 1987: issue 92(5)). Pp. 814-
821.
HIGH ALTITUDE CEREBRAL OEDEMA: C. Clarke; Int J Sports Med (April, 1988:
issue 9(2)). Pp. 170-174.