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Previous Volume 345:107-114 July 12, 2001 Number 2 Next

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The term "high-altitude illness" is used to describe the cerebral and pulmonary syndromes that can develop in unacclimatized persons shortly after ascent to high altitude. Acute mountain sickness and high-altitude cerebral edema refer to the cerebral abnormalities, and high-altitude pulmonary edema to the pulmonary abnormalities. Because millions of visitors travel to high-altitude locations each year, acute mountain sickness is a public health problem and has economic consequences, especially for the ski industry. High-altitude pulmonary edema and high-altitude cerebral edema, though uncommon, are potentially fatal. High-altitude illness also provides a useful model for studying the pathophysiological process of hypoxia in an . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Epidemiologic Process and Risk Factors

Acute Mountain Sickness and High-Altitude Cerebral Edema

Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis

Pathophysiological Process

Treatment and Prevention

High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema

Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis

Pathophysiological Process

Susceptibility

Treatment and Prevention

Source Information

From the Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver (P.H.H., R.C.R.); the Department of Emergency Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital and Medical Center, Grand Junction, Colo. (P.H.H.); and New Mexico Resonance, Albuquerque (R.C.R.).

Address reprint requests to Dr. Hackett at the International Society for Mountain Medicine, 610 Sabeta Dr., Ridgway, CO 81432-9335, or at hackett@ismmed.org.

References

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