Objectives: To highlight and recognize HAPE as an entity and pathology peculiar to the region of high mountain.
Material and Method: A retrospective study was made of patients hospitalized with confirmed diagnosis of HAPE, in the past 5 years, in hospitals located more than 3,500 meters above sea level (North-Argentina)
Results: 26 children were included in a period from 2002 to 2007. The mean age was 7.5 years; its relationship Male Female was 1.4 / 1.0
The month of highest incidence was in March, coinciding with the holiday period for children.
Its clinical presentation was characterized by: 99% were positive for epidemiology HAPE reentry, 100% had dyspnea and cyanosis, 10 patients were found in pulse oximetry below 70%, more than 90% had tachycardia and tachypnea, and in 32% was found fever over 38 degrees centigrade.
Their complementary methods showed: signs of overload of right ventricle by ECG in 67%; the chest X-ray showed: 42% unilateral infiltrated and bilateral 26%. By Echocardiogram Color Doppler were observed pulmonary pressures exceeding 40 mmHg.
In 100% of the patients began treatment with oxygen therapy and 80% required to be transferred (Using the decline as a therapy). In 37% diuretics were used, and steroids only in one case. In 5 patients of HAPE reentry, all of them had shown the same clinic characteristics in previous years. The average placement was 3.9 days with full recovery.
Conclusions: Reentry epidemiology of HAPE is the basis of diagnosis. Its treatment is oxygen therapy and the descent.