Abstract
BackgroundAcute mountain sickness (AMS) is commonly found among people traveling above 2500 m. We investigated whether the occurrence of AMS is related to differences in individual physical fitness and BMI in subjects 11–13 years of age.MethodsThis study was conducted at Xue Mountain, Taiwan (elevation of 3886 m) between June 13, 2011 and June 17, 2011. Subjects were asked to ascend from Taipei City (25 m) to the summit (3886 m) over 3 days and 2 nights. Gender, age, weight, height, and fitness index (determined using a 3-minute step test) were recorded at sea level before ascent. The Lake Louise AMS score was used to record symptoms and diagnose AMS.ResultsA total of 179 subjects (mean age: 11.8 years; 102 males, 77 females) were included in the analysis. A total of 44.7% of subjects were diagnosed with AMS. Male gender (p = 0.004) and elevated body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.001) were each associated with the development of AMS. However the physical fitness index was comparable in subjects with and without AMS (67.8 ± 10.1 vs. 68.0 ± 9.3, p = 0.9).ConclusionsThis study shows that both BMI and male gender were associated with the development of AMS in 11–13 year old children. Physical fitness was not associated with the occurrence of AMS.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12887-015-0373-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is commonly found among people traveling above 2500 m
Few studies have been published that have examined the incidence of AMS in children and adolescents, the incidence of AMS in adults traveling to high altitudes is well documented
AMS has been recorded in both adults and children, but the relative incidence in children and adolescents compared to adults remains unclear, and it has been suggested that the incidence and severity of AMS may be inversely related to climbers’ age [7,8] Hackett et al found younger trekkers were more susceptible to AMS [9], and Honigman et al reported an incidence of
Summary
Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is commonly found among people traveling above 2500 m. Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a well-recognized phenomenon in people travelling to high altitude, and is characterized by symptoms of headache, nausea or vomiting, dyspnea, fatigue, poor appetite, dizziness, and difficulty sleeping [1]. Few studies have been published that have examined the incidence of AMS in children and adolescents, the incidence of AMS in adults traveling to high altitudes is well documented. AMS has been recorded in both adults and children, but the relative incidence in children and adolescents compared to adults remains unclear, and it has been suggested that the incidence and severity of AMS may be inversely related to climbers’ age [7,8] Hackett et al found younger trekkers were more susceptible to AMS [9], and Honigman et al reported an incidence of
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
