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Altitude Illness

Andrew McBride, MD Reviewed 06/2022
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • A spectrum of cerebral and pulmonary syndromes ranging from mild discomfort to fatal illness that occur on ascent to higher altitudes as a direct result of inadequate acclimatization

  • ...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • AMS:

    • Symptoms include headache, anorexia, irritability, marked fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, light-headedness, dyspnea with exertion, or insomnia.

    • Severity has been studied usin...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Individuals without previous altitude exposure should adhere to acclimatization guidelines.

  • Stop ascent, acclimatize at the same altitude, and/or descend if symptoms do not ab...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

  • For mild cases, no follow-up is needed.

  • For more severe cases, follow closely until symptoms subside.

PATIENT EDUCATION

Counsel patients about the ...

REFERENCES

1
Davis  C, Hackett  P. Advances in the prevention and treatment of high altitude illness. Emerg Med Clin North Am.  2017; 35(2): 241– 260.  [View Abstract] ...

CODES

ICD10

  • T70.20XA Unspecified effects of high altitude, initial encounter

  • T70.20XD Unspecified effects of high altitude, subsequent encounter

  • T70.20XS Unspecified effects of high altitude, sequela

  • T70....

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Slow ascent and timely descent are important to prevent and treat of high-altitude illnesses.

  • Lack of symptom resolution with appropriate descent suggests an alternative diagnosis.

  • High-...

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