Exams and Tests

The diagnosis of acute altitude sickness is based on symptoms. After traveling to a high altitude, symptoms of loss of appetite, generalized weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath during exertion, nausea, or a headache associated with insomnia may indicate altitude sickness.

• The doctor may hear crackles or rales (a rattling sound) when listening to the lungs.
  
  
• Shortness of breath at rest may indicate HAPE.
  
  
• Vital signs may be abnormal and may include low-grade fever and faster-than-normal heart and breathing rates.
  
  
• Pulse oximetry, which measures oxygen saturation of the blood, may reveal that oxygen saturation is lower than expected for that particular altitude.
  
  
• The doctor may treat people with fever and cough for pneumonia in addition to HAPE.
  
  
• HACE is diagnosed if a person’s mental state is altered or coordination is lost at high altitude.