Episode 12: High Altitude Illness with Elaine Reno

On this episode, host Jason Woods speaks with Dr. Elaine Reno, an emergency medicine physician who is also a wilderness medicine expert, about high altitude illness in pediatrics. We focus on risk factors, identification of illness, and recommendations for initial treatment. Important points * Significant altitude illness is rare below 8000 feet * Pre-verbal children DO experience high altitude illness but can be more difficult to diagnose given the difficulty in communication. * Dr. Reno strongly prefers slow acclimatization for children, rather than prophylactic medication. Point of Care Resources * Wilderness Medical Society * Colorado Wilderness Medicine * Lake Louise Acute Mountain Sickness Score * Children’s Lake Louise Score Guests Elaine Reno MD – Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Section of Wilderness and Environmental Medicine