HIGH ALTITUDE PULMONARY EDEMA – H.A.P.E
High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) is a condition associated with Acute Mountain Sickness and occurs because of fluid build up in the lungs.
Fluid in the lungs prevents the effective exchange of oxygen and thus a decrease of oxygen into the bloodstream.
HAPE almost always occurs because of ascending too high, too fast.
It is a life threatening condition and therefore every precaution should be taken to avoid it when trekking Mount Kilimanjaro.
Clear symptoms that one is suffering from HAPE include:
- Very short of breath, even while resting
- Very tight chest
- The feeling of suffocation, particularly while sleeping
- Coughing that brings up white, frothy fluid
- Extreme fatigue and weakness
- Confusion, hallucination and irrational behaviour
If the last symptom occurs (i.e. confusion, hallucination and irrational behaviour) one can assume that the pulmonary edema has started to affect the brain due to a lack of oxygen in the bloodstream.
Any available oxygen should be administered. The drug, Nifedipine, has been shown to ameliorate the condition, but descent is the only cure.
Trekkers should take care to ensure that the person descending with High Altitude Pulmonary Edema doesn’t exert themselves as this can result in worsening of the condition. A stretcher evacuation is the preferred method of descent.
Once the person has reached the lower limits of the mountain, medical support should be sought immediately.
READ MORE USEFUL INFORMATION
- Acute Mountain Sickness Symptoms
- Using Diamox on Kilimanjaro – Yes or No?
- High Altitude Cerebral Edema – HACE
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