Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0018681 (headache)
 56,091 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

High altitude cerebral oedema is a severe form of acute mountain sickness occurring at heights above 4500 metres. The clinical features are of headache, impairment of consciousness and a variety of neurological signs. The condition occurs during acclimatisation and also at extreme altitudes above 7500 metres when it is often fatal. Case histories of cerebral oedema patients, pathological findings and treatment are reviewed. Other forms of altitude-related illness are also reviewed, including stroke and retinal haemorrhage.
 ...
PMID:High altitude cerebral oedema. 338 23

Acute mountain sickness and high altitude cerebral edema are specific pathologies of high altitude exposure. The usual symptoms of acute mountain sickness are headache, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, lassitude, dizziness and ataxia. High altitude cerebral oedema is a severe state of acute mountain sickness with, in addition, alteration of mental status and consciousness. The pathophysiology of these 2 diseases are essentially due to an increase of intracranial pressure directly dependent of an increase of cerebral volume. Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying acute mountain sickness and high altitude cerebral oedema are still poorly understood. The regulation of cerebral blood flow by nitric oxide seems to play a major role.
 ...
PMID:[High altitude cerebral oedema]. 1281 24

High altitude cerebral edema (HACE) is a rare complication of ascent to altitudes of over 2500 m (8200 ft). We are not aware of a previously published case report of HACE in a patient under the age of 18 y. We report on 2 cases of suspected HACE in 2 patients, aged 12 and 16 y, who presented to the Manang Himalayan Rescue Association clinic at 3500 m. The 16-y-old patient presented with severe headache, vomiting, and ataxia after rapid ascent to 3800 m. The 12-y-old patient presented with severe headache, vomiting, visual disturbances, and ataxia at 4500 m, which began to resolve with descent to the clinic at 3500 m. Our cases suggest that HACE can occur in children and adolescents. Because there are no specific guidelines for treatment of acute mountain sickness or HACE in patients under the age of 18 y, we recommend treatment as for adults: oxygen, immediate descent, and dexamethasone. Simulated descent in a portable hyperbaric chamber can be used if oxygen is not available and if actual descent is not possible.
 ...
PMID:Pediatric High Altitude Cerebral Edema in the Nepal Himalayas. 3130 92