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New study on Kilimanjaro looks at effects of altitude on trekkers
November 30th 2007.
A
new study looking into the causes and effects of altitude sickness, or AMS, is due
to be launched on Kilimanjaro.
The study will take the form of questionnaires handed
out to trekkers and filled out by them on a daily basis as they climb the mountain.
The researchers state that the questionnaire should not take more than 30 seconds
to complete each day – presumably in recognition of the fact that knackered Kilimanjaro
trekkers are unlikely to want to spend too long on filling out a questionnaire each
day, having spent the best part of it walking themselves into a state of exhaustion
on the slopes of Kilimanjaro.
The questions themselves divide into several section.
The first section looks at the background of each trekker – their height, weight,
age, sex, fitness level, whether they have any medical conditions and whether they
are taking medication (whether some form of anti altitude sickness drug, such as
diamox, or any other form of medication). This section, of course, needs to be filled
out only once.
The next section, however, will look at the altitude sickness symptoms
each person suffers (or, of course, doesn’t suffer) day by day on the mountain. The
questions here will be based on the Lake Louise Mountain Sickness Scoring System,
which without getting too scientific is an assessment of five graded symptoms: headache,
gi symptoms, fatigue/weakness, dizziness/lightheadedness, and difficulty sleeping.
Each trekker roped in to filling out one of these forms will record his symptoms
every day, taking note of where and when they got them.
In this way, the researchers
hope, they can build up a reasonably accurate picture of exactly who is more likely
to suffer from AMS, where and when they are most likely to suffer from it, and how
bad the symptoms will be.
I think you’ll agree the results of this study will be
fascinating for everybody who has anything to do with the mountain, from the National
Park Authorities to the trekking agencies to the trekkers themselves.
We’ll let you
know when we hear if and when the study starts, and what, eventually, the results
of it are. And if you do happen to be climbing Kilimanjaro in the next twelve months
and are asked to take part, do help out if you can – your work will go towards a
fascinating piece of research.
News October 2007 >>