The effect may be mild or severe, and occurs because less oxygen reaches the muscles and
the brain at high altitudes, requiring the heart and lungs to compensate by working harder.
There is no hard-and-fast rule as to what is too high: Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) has been
fatal at 3000m, although 3500m to 4500m is the usual range.
Symptoms and effects Symptoms of AMS usually (but not always) develop during the first 24
hours at altitude. Mild symptoms include headache, lethargy, dizziness, difficulty sleeping and
loss of appetite. Potentially fatal, AMS may become more severe without warning. Severe
symptoms include breathlessness, a dry, irritative cough (which may progress to the production
of pink, frothy sputum), severe headache, lack of coordination, confusion, irrational behaviour,
vomiting, drowsiness and unconsciousness.
Prevention If trekking, build time into your schedule to acclimatise, and ensure your guide
knows how to recognise and deal with altitude sickness. Morocco’s most popular trek, to Jebel
Toubkal, reaches the 4167m summit relatively quickly, so many people may suffer even mildly.
The longer treks in the M’Goun Massif also reach heights of around 4000m. Treks in the Rif
Mountains and Jebel Sarhro are considerably lower, so don’t carry the same risks. You can
download free booklets, including Travel at Altitude and Children at Altitude, from the website
of the British Mountaineering Council (BMC; www.thebmc.co.uk) .
Treatment Treat mild symptoms by resting at the same altitude until recovery, or preferably
descend – even 500m can help. Take paracetamol or aspirin for headaches. If symptoms
persist or become worse, immediate descent is necessary. Drug treatments should never be
used to avoid descent or to enable further ascent. Diamox (acetazolamide) reduces the
headache of AMS and helps the body acclimatise to the lack of oxygen. It is only available on
prescription, and those who are allergic to sulfonamide antibiotics may also be allergic to
Diamox.
Heat Illness
Causes Occurs following heavy sweating and excessive fluid loss with inadequate replacement
of fluids and salt. This is particularly common in hot climates when taking unaccustomed
exercise before full acclimatisation.
Symptoms and effects Headache, dizziness and tiredness.
Prevention Dehydration is already happening by the time you feel thirsty – drink sufficient
water such that you produce pale, diluted urine. Morocco’s sun can be fierce, so bring a hat.
Treatment Consists of fluid replacement with water, fruit juice, or both, and cooling by cold
water and fans. Treating salt loss consists of consuming salty fluids such as soup or broth, and
adding a little more table salt to foods than usual.
Heatstroke
Causes Extreme heat, high humidity, physical exertion or use of drugs or alcohol in the sun and
dehydration. Occurs when the body’s heat-regulating mechanism breaks down.
Symptoms and effects An excessive rise in body temperature leads to sweating ceasing,
irrational and hyperactive behaviour, and eventually loss of consciousness, and death.
Treatment Rapid cooling by spraying the body with water and fanning is ideal. Emergency fluid
and electrolyte replacement by intravenous drip is usually also required.
Insect Bites & Stings
Causes Mosquitoes, sandflies (found around the Mediterranean beaches), scorpions (common