Acute Mountain Sickness - High Altitude
Incidence varies - rate increases with altitude and rate of ascent with less than 5% with rapid
travel to 5,000 ft, 40-60% at 10,000ft, and almost 100% at 15,000ft.
 • Little AMS seen with rate of ascent less than 1000ft/day
 • AMS occurs 6- 24 hour at altitude
 • Cardinal symptom is headache - victims may also c/o of fatigue, nausea and decreased urine output
 • Score by Lake Louise Score, AMS if self-reported >4 or total score greater than 5.
THERAPY:
  1) No further ascent!
  2) Acetazolamide 250 mg BID- increases oxygenation and aids diuresis
  3) Descending by 150-3000 ft, especially is symptoms are moderate or severe.
  4) Dexamethasone 4 mg q 6hr - improves symptoms but does not aid acclimatization. Used with acetazolamide for severe cases

Dr. Thomas DeLoughery @Bloodman

#Acute #Mountain #Sickness #High #Altitude #AMS #diagnosis #management