High altitude illness

In mild cases of acute mountain sickness (AMS), symptoms tend to resolve quickly with rest and treatment. However, further ascent may see the return of AMS and the development of high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and high-altitude cerebral edema (HACE).

Left untreated, cases of HAPE and HACE are often fatal.

In HAPE, recovery tends to occur within a few days of returning to low altitude, while the neurological features of HACE may take several weeks to disappear.

Although individuals with a history of AMS, HAPE, and HACE seem prone to having further episodes of high-altitude illness, many cases of HAPE and HACE are sporadic. Following a life-threatening episode of high-altitude illness, a return to altitude should not be excluded. However, a cautious approach with advice from an experienced altitude physician and possible use of prophylaxis with a slow-ascent profile is vital.