Malignant headache of high altitude– High prevalence in combatants deployed at high altitude

KRISHAN SINGH; SANTOSH KUMAR SINGH; VISHAL JHA; RACHIT SHARMA

Volume : VIII, Issue : X, October - 2019

Malignant headache of high altitude– High prevalence in combatants deployed at high altitude

Krishan Singh, Santosh Kumar Singh, Vishal Jha, Rachit Sharma

Abstract :

Background: In the list of various risks the combatants face, adverse living conditions at high altitude apparently find its place at the top. With the paucity of medical facilities available at these locations, cereal venous thrombosis presenting as a nonspecific symptom like headache can be a tough challenge for the physicians deployed there. Materials and methods: Combatants deployed at altitude varying from 11000 to 20000 ft and presenting with complaints of headache, nausea and vomiting were taken into study after evaluation at a service hospital which itself is at 11500 ft. Results: In a period of 4 months, 55 cases of headache were screened and evaluated. 21 of these patients were diagnosed to have Cereal Venous Thrombosis (CVT). Conclusion: The clinical awareness has to be enhanced so that for the symptoms like headache, nausea and vomiting the diagnosis of CVT should be at the top of the differentials and clinicians should be at their toes to treat it because every combatant is a valuable resource to his country.