Abstract
To the Editor:
In their letter to the editor, the authors of Trekker Behavior as One Indicator of AMS Knowledge 1 referred to the Lake Louise Consensus definition of acute mountain sickness (AMS) but omitted to mention the minimum score of 3 that we cite in our article. 2 This could have lowered the threshold for diagnosis of AMS. However, they did say that the incidence of AMS in their study was “consistent with the literature.”
Acetazolamide was clearly beneficial but underused. Only 1 of the 10 trekkers who had previously experienced AMS took prophylactic acetazolamide. Ignorance about AMS and the benefits of acetazolamide persists despite available information.
We agree that physicians who are usually contacted for vaccinations and prescription of medication have the opportunity to advise on AMS prevention. But is this information easily available to the doctors? Are the Mountain Medicine organizations exploring this possibility?