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Chronic mountain sickness
From WikEM
Contents
Background
- Excessive polycythemia for a given altitude (Hgb >20)
- Occurs in patients living at high-altitude who have COPD, sleep apnea or impaired respiratory drive
Clinical Features
- Headache
- Difficulty thinking
- Impaired peripheral circulation
- Drowsiness
Differential Diagnosis
High Altitude Illnesses
- Acute mountain sickness
- Chronic mountain sickness
- High altitude cerebral edema
- High altitude pulmonary edema
- High altitude peripheral edema
- High altitude retinopathy
- High altitude pharyngitis and bronchitis
- Ultraviolet keratitis
Evaluation
Management
- Phlebotomy
- Relocation to lower altitude
- Home O2 use
See Also
References
Authors
Ross Donaldson, Michael Holtz, Daniel Ostermayer, Neil Young
