Does Lake Louise questionnaire interpret high-altitude headache as acute mountain sickness? Experience in the western Himalayas.

Background Objectives: High-altitude headache (HAH) and headache in acute mountain sickness (AMS) are common among lowlanders ascending to the high altitude and are often confused with one another. A pilot study was undertaken to analyze HAH and AMS cases in Indian lowlanders ascending to Leh city (3500 m) in western Himalayas.

Methods: A total number of 1228 Indian lowlanders, who ascended (fresh and re-inductees) by air and acclimatized, participated in this pilot study.