Acute Mountain Sickness (
Presence/Severity
of 5 Symptoms:
Headache
0 –
None
1 –
Mild
2 –
Moderate
3 –
Severe/incapacitating
GI Symptoms
0 –
None
1 –
Poor appetite or nausea
2 –
Moderate Nausea or vomiting
3 –
Severe/incapacitating nausea and vomiting
Fatigue and/or Weakness
0 –
None
1 –
Mild
2 –
Moderate
4 –
Severe/incapacitating
Dizziness or Lightheadedness
0 –
None
1 –
Mild
2 –
Moderate
4 –
Severe/incapacitating
Difficulty Sleeping
0 –
Slept well as usual
1 –
Did not sleep as well as usual
2 –
Woke many times, poor night’s sleep
4 –
Could not sleep at all
Gain
in altitude (usually over 8,000 ft) +
HA +
At
least one other symptoms +
Total
Score of 3 or more = Acute Mountain Sickness
www.medex.org.uk/new_page_5.htm
High Altitude
Cerebral Edema (HACE)
(Any 2 of the following)
·
Acute Mountain
Sickness
·
Altered Mental
Status
·
Ataxia
High Altitude
Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)
(Any 2 of the following symptoms)
·
Dyspnea at rest
·
Cough
·
Weakness/decreased
exercise performance
·
Chest tightness or
congestion
(Any 2 of the following signs)
·
Rales or wheezing
·
Central cyanosis
·
Tachypnea
·
Tachycardia
Recommendations for
High Altitude Travelers
1.
Slow rate of
ascent, if possible (1,000 ft per day over 10,000 ft)
2.
If slow ascent not
possible or hx of AMS, acetazolamide chemoprophylaxis (250 BID)
3.
If AMS develops,
do not ascend further until symptoms resolve
4.
Be familiar with
signs & symptoms of HACE and HAPE
5.
If HACE or /HAPE
develops, descend immediately and seek immediate medical attention