Altitude sickness, the mildest form being acute mountain sickness, is a harmful effect of high altitude caused by rapid exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation. People's bodies can respond to high altitude in different ways, and symptoms of altitude sickness may include headaches, vomiting, tiredness, confusion, trouble sleeping and dizziness. Acute mountain sickness can progress to high-altitude pulmonary edema, with associated shortness of breath, or high-altitude cerebral edema, with associated confusion. Chronic mountain sickness may occur after long-term exposure to high altitude.
Facts
Classification
ICD-10 ChapterXIX: Injury, Poisoning and Certain Other Consequences of External Causes 2 Communicable or Non-communicable Transmission Route First DescribedThe article hedges the attribution (possibly the Karakoram Mountains) and dates it only as around 30 BCE. Sources
1. Wikipedia: Altitude sickness
WikipediaInfobox medical condition, causes
Low amounts of oxygen at high elevation
Infobox medical condition, causes (no infectious mechanism stated)
Low amounts of oxygen at high elevation
Wikipedia: Altitude sickness, lead section
The earliest description of altitude sickness is attributed to a Chinese text from around 30 BCE that describes "Big Headache Mountains", possibly referring to the Karakoram Mountains around Kilik Pass.
Lead section, body-system statement
Acute mountain sickness can progress to high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) with associated shortness of breath or high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) with associated confusion.
Lead section, body-system statement (nervous)
Acute mountain sickness can progress to high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) with associated shortness of breath or high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE) with associated confusion.
View the Source 2. Wikipedia: ICD-10
WikipediaList of chapters, Chapter XIXQuote, List of chapters, Chapter XIX
Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
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