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Selected Publication:
Röhrer, B.
Children and altitude.
A summary of the physiological background and resulting consequences for children that are exposed to moderate and high altitude, with special remarks on alpine sports and aviation
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit ] Graz Medical University; 2018. pp.
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- Authors Med Uni Graz:
- Advisor:
- Pfurtscheller Klaus
- Schwaberger Bernhard
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Objective: As already stated in the preamble, there is a steady increase in both mountain sports and aircraft traveling throughout the world and throughout different age groups. Since most clinical studies are done on adults, this thesis is supposed to focus on younger “alpinists” and travelers and will be dedicated to questions that arise from pediatric alpine medicine. Methods: For this reason, important knowledge about the relevant physical and physiological backgrounds was acquired in a first step, which will be summarized to a brief explanation in the introduction. Afterwards, a structured literature research was done on the database PubMed, the university library in Tromsø, Norway, and some private literature provided by the supervisor, PD Dr. Pfurtscheller. In this research, questions about physiological changes, altitude related illnesses, Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), aircraft traveling and mountain sports in childhood were emphasized. Results: As a result, some interesting results were obtained about special features in children concerning Acute mountain sickness (AMS), High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and High altitude cerebral edema (HACE). Furthermore, it could be seen that there is probably an increased risk of SIDS with increasing altitude and that there are some other important factors, such as acute respiratory illness, cold, sun and dehydration that should be kept in mind. Finally, information about different kinds of mountain sports’ effect on children, their advantages regarding children’s development, possible dangers, the recommended age for starting with different types of sports and similar issues were analyzed. Conclusion: As long as a certain amount of precaution is given, there is no crucial reason that would dissuade parents to go to the mountains or travel in an airplane with their healthy children. However, special precautions should be taken when the child is sick. Furthermore, the parents should be well informed about early signs of altitude related illnesses in their children, possibly using the Children’s Lake Louise Score (chapter 3.2.1.3.1), and other factors like increased solar radiation. When it comes to the intensity of the activity, it can be said that children generally have a good endurance capacity, since their body provides best conditions for longer aerobic activities, and that this capacity can be trained from early ages on. Nevertheless, parents must be careful when it comes to anaerobic, high- intensity training or technically demanding sports which are not recommended at very young ages. Furthermore, only older children should partake in more responsible activities such as belaying each other in lead climbing.