Disoriented and ataxic pilgrims: an epidemiological study of acute mountain sickness and high-altitude cerebral edema at a sacred lake at 4300 m in the Nepal Himalayas

Abstract

Such a high incidence of HACE in an epidemiological study using the Lake Louise criteria has, to our knowledge, not been reported before. High-altitude pilgrims, especially women pilgrims in this study, seem to be a very susceptible group. Preventive measures in these pilgrims need to be adopted to avoid AMS, specifically life-threatening HACE and HAPE.