is swelling of the
Brain which can occur as the result of many things, including head injury, allergic reaction, stroke, drug overdose, acute liver disease,
Cardiac Arrest or from the lack of proper
Altitude Acclimatization .
Symptoms of cerebral edema include
Headache s, decreased level of consciousness,
Hallucination s, psychotic behavior, memory loss and
Coma . If left untreated, it can lead to death (r.
Bruce Lee ).
(or '''HACE''') is a severe (usually fatal) form of
Altitude Sickness . HACE is the result of swelling of brain tissue from fluid leakage. Symptoms can include headache, loss of coordination (ataxia), weakness, and decreasing levels of consciousness including disorientation, loss of memory, hallucinations, psychotic behaviour, and coma. It generally occurs after a week or more at
High Altitude . Severe instances can lead to death if not treated quickly. Immediate descent is a necessary life-saving measure (2,000 - 4,000 feet). There are some medications (e.g.
Dexamethasone ) that may be prescribed for treatment in the field, but these require proper medical training in their use. Anyone suffering from HACE must be evacuated to a medical facility for proper follow-up treatment. A
Gamow Bag can sometimes be used to stabilize the sufferer before transport or descending.
Climbers may also suffer high altitude
Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), which affects the
Lung s. While not nearly as life threatening as HACE in the initial stages, failure to descend to lower altitudes or receive medical treatment can also lead to death.
