ABSTRACT
Mountains are home to numerous organisms known to cause skin disease. Bites, stings, poisons, chemicals, toxins, trauma, and infections all contribute to this end. Numerous plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, viruses, and protozoa are responsible. This paper aims to review skin illness and injury sustained from organisms in the mountains of North America. Other factors such as increased ultraviolet radiation, temperature extremes, and decreasing atmospheric pressure along with human physiologic parameters, which contribute to disease severity, will also be discussed. After reading this review, one should feel more comfortable identifying potentially harmful organisms, as well as diagnosing, treating, and preventing organism-inflicted skin pathology sustained in the high country.
Subject(s)
Bites and Stings , Skin Diseases/chemically induced , Skin Diseases/microbiology , Skin/injuries , Animals , Bacteria , Dermatitis/etiology , Fungi , Humans , North America , Skin/radiation effects , Viruses , WildernessABSTRACT
Exploring the mountains is a highly rewarding past time; however, certain high-altitude exposures can lead to dermatologic manifestations. In this review article, the authors will describe cold, solar, and severe weather that one may experience when spending time outdoors. Factors such as increased ultraviolet radiation, temperature extremes, and low partial pressure of oxygen, along with human physiologic parameters also contribute to disease severity and presentation. This review article will address the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of high-altitude dermatology exposures.
