High altitude pulmonary edema in children / 中国小儿急救医学

ABSTRACT

High altitude pulmonary edema(HAPE) occurs usually in plateau of low oxygen environ-ment,which is a non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema characterized by hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. Children HAPE has an acute onset and rapid progression.It always happens during the first 1 to 3 days ente-ring the plateau and has clear trigger factors such as upper respiratory tract infection,many physical labour and coldness. The pathogenesis is related with hypoxic pulmonary artery contraction,pulmonary epithelial dysfunction,inflammatory response,water transport imbalance in pulmonary epithelium,and genetic polymor-phism.The early symptoms include crying,breath holding,and dry cough. With the disease progressing, patients will present shortness of breath and expectoration of pink foam sputum,and even be unconscious, which results from cerebral edema and is mortal.The treatments of HAPE include bed rest,oxygen therapy, reduction of pulmonary arterial hypertension,hormone,diuresis,prevention of infection and so on.