Acute mountain sickness

Alternative names:

altitude anoxia; altitude sickness; high altitude cerebral edema; high altitude pulmonary edema; mountain sickness

Symptoms:

• dry, continuous cough
• shortness of breath
  • at rest
  • aggravated by exercise
• dizziness
• headache
  • upon awakening in the morning
  • awakens patient from sleep
  • aggravated by lying down, reclining position
  • aggravated by standing up
  • aggravated by coughing, sneezing, straining, lifting (Valsalva maneuver)
  • with nausea or vomiting
• sleeping difficulty
• rapid pulse (heart rate)
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• vomiting
• confusion
• coughing up blood
• fatigue

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• transient, temporary vision abnormalities
• eyelid drooping on one side only (unilateral)
• facial swelling
• swelling in both legs (lower extremities)
• swelling around the eye socket (periorbital)
• eyes, pupils different size
  • pupil enlarged (dilated) in one eye only (unilateral)
• consciousness, decreased or withdrawal from social interaction

Signs and tests:

Listening to the chest with a stethoscope (auscultation) reveals crackles in the lung fields.

A chest X-ray may be performed.

Update Date: 10/08/99

Updated by: adam.com editorial