Symptoms of pulmonary edema caused by altitude sickness

Pulmonary edema caused by altitude sickness is very dangerous. It will cause patients to have difficulty breathing, chest tightness, a feeling of pressure in the chest, coughing, coughing up white or pink foamy sputum, fatigue, reduced mobility, and in severe cases, respiratory failure and organ failure. If not treated in time, it may even pose a great threat to life safety.

Clinical manifestations

The disease is more common in areas with an altitude of more than 3000m. For those who enter the plateau for the first time or return to the plateau, the onset of illness occurs within 1 to 7 days of entering the plateau. For those who enter the plateau by plane, the onset of illness usually occurs within 3 days. Symptoms include headache, dyspnea, inability to lie flat, coughing up white or pink foamy sputum, examination reveals cyanosis or grayish complexion, large and medium-sized moist rales and sputum sounds in the lungs, etc.

Predisposing factors

1. Entering the plateau for the first time, or returning to the plateau after living in the plains for a period of time, or moving from the plateau to another higher place;

2. The altitude of the area where the disease occurs;

3. The time from entering the plateau to the onset of illness;

4. Individual factors: climbing too fast, excessive physical activity, cold or climate change, hunger, fatigue, insomnia, motion sickness, emotional tension, upper respiratory tract infection, etc.

treat

Because this disease is serious, if you experience difficulty breathing at rest, cough, or cough up white or pink foamy sputum, you should go to a local hospital for treatment immediately.

1. Emphasize early detection, early diagnosis, and adopt the principle of on-site treatment. You should rest in bed and lie in a sloping position.

2. Oxygen inhalation is the main measure in treatment and rescue. Patients with severe conditions should be given high-concentration pressurized oxygen. Use hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatment when conditions permit.

3. Lowering pulmonary artery pressure is an important part of treatment. Aminophylline can be added to glucose solution and slowly injected intravenously. It can be repeated after 4 to 6 hours. Or use phentolamine, add it to glucose solution and slowly inject it intravenously.

4. Dehydrating agents or diuretics can be used to reduce lung blood volume, such as 20% mannitol intravenous drip or furosemide (Lasix) intravenous injection.

5. Glucocorticoids, such as hydrocortisone, can be used to reduce the permeability of pulmonary capillaries by adding them to glucose solution and intravenous drip. Or dexamethasone intravenous injection, intravenous drip or intramuscular injection. High doses of vitamin C intravenously can also be used.

6. Morphine can be used for critically ill patients who suffer from orthopnea, restlessness, and cough up large amounts of pink or bloody foamy sputum. Intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, if necessary, dilute with normal saline and slowly inject intravenously. However, it is not suitable for patients with suppressed respiratory function or those who are drowsy or comatose. For patients who cannot tolerate morphine due to nausea, vomiting, or who have bronchospasm, intramuscular injection of pethidine can be used.