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Mal agudo de montaña - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Edema cerebral por grandes alturas; Mal de la montaña; Anoxia por altitud; Mal de las alturas; Edema pulmonar a grandes alturas

Definición:

Es una enfermedad que puede afectar a alpinistas, excursionistas, esquiadores o viajeros a grandes alturas (particularmente por encima de los 8,000 pies o 2,400 metros).

Causas:

El mal agudo de montaña se debe a una combinación de reducción de la presión atmosférica y niveles más bajos de oxígeno a grandes alturas.

Cuanto más rápido ascienda a una mayor altitud, mayor será la probabilidad de desarrollar el mal agudo de montaña. Sus síntomas también dependerán de la velocidad de su ascenso y de qué tanto se esfuerce usted mismo.

Usted está en mayor riesgo del mal agudo de montaña si:

Vive en o cerca al nivel del mar.
Tuvo la enfermedad antes.

Sistema respiratorio

Reviewed last on: 1/5/2011
Jacob L. Heller, MD, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, Clinic. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Hackett PH, Roach RC. High-altitude medicine. In: Auerbach PS, ed. Wilderness Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:chap 1.

Schoene RB, Swenson ER. High Altitude. In: Mason RJ, Murray JF, Broaddus VC, Nadel JA, eds. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2005: chap 65.

Wright A, Brearey S, Imray C. High hopes at high altitudes: pharmacotherapy for acute mountain sickness and high-altitude cerebral and pulmonary oedema. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2008;9(1):119-127.

Yaron M, Honigman B. High-altitude medicine. In: Marx, JA, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa : Mosby Elsevier; 2006: chap 142.

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