High altitude peripheral edema

Diagnosis

• Swelling of face and distal extremities is common (20% of trekkers at 14,000ft)
• Often associated with acute mountain sickness, but not in all cases

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

Management

• Resolves spontaneously with descent

See Also

• High Altitude Medicine

Source

Tintinalli