Funding support for this study was provided by a Discovery Grant from the Australian Research Council (ARC). A. E. H. is supported by an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Postgraduate Public Health Scholarship http://www.selleckchem.com/products/epacadostat-incb024360.html and by the National Centre for

Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS), Australia. C. R. M. has received funding for investigator driven research from GSK and CSL Laboratories. The other authors state they have no conflicts of interest to declare. “
“Background. The main objective of this study was to investigate the incidence and predictors of acute mountain sickness (AMS) in travelers who consulted a pre-travel clinic and the compliance with advices concerning this condition. Methods. A post-travel questionnaire was sent to clients selleck of five travel clinics who planned to climb above 2,000 m. Results. The response was 77% and the data of all 744 respondents who stayed above 2,500 m were used for the analysis. Eighty-seven percent (646) read and understood the written advices on AMS. The incidence of AMS was 25% (184), and the predictors were previous

AMS [odds ratio (OR) 2.2], female sex (OR 1.6), age (OR 0.98 per year), maximum sleeping altitude (OR 1.2 per 500 m), and the number of nights between 1,500 and 2,500 m (OR 0.9 per night). Eighty-seven percent of respondents understood the written advices about AMS but 21% did not read or understand the use of acetazolamide. Forty percent spent less than two nights between Thymidine kinase 1,500 and 2,500 m and 43% climbed more than 500 m/d once above 2,500 m. Acetazolamide was brought along by 541 respondents

(72%) and 116 (16%) took it preventively. Of those with AMS 62 (34%) took acetazolamide treatment and 87 (47%) climbed higher despite AMS symptoms. The average preventive dose of acetazolamide was 250 mg/d, while the average curative dose was 375 mg/d. We found no relation between acetazolamide prevention and AMS (p = 0.540). Conclusions. The incidence of AMS in travelers who stayed above 2,500 m was 25%. Predictors were previous AMS, female sex, age, maximum overnight altitude, and the number of nights between 1,500 and 2,500 m. Only half of these travelers followed the preventive and curative advices and 21% did not read or understand the use of acetazolamide. We found no preventive effect of a low dose of acetazolamide in this retrospective observational study. Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a syndrome of headache, nausea, dizziness, sleeplessness, dyspnoea, and fatigue that affects unacclimatized travelers ascending above 2,000 m. Although it is usually a benign condition, it can progress to severe illness or high altitude cerebral edema.