Delayed-Onset High Altitude Pulmonary Edema: A Case Report

High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is a life-threatening altitude illness that usually occurs in insufficiently acclimatized climbers in the first few days at altitudes above 2500 m. Acetazolamide is recommended for prophylaxis of acute mountain sickness, but a role for acetazolamide in the prevention of HAPE has not been established. We report a case of a trekker with previous high altitude experience who developed HAPE 8 d after arrival to altitude despite what was believed to be a conservative ascent profile.