Because of side effects I prefer oxygen, especially in infants and toddlers. As with adults, oxygen is the cheapest, safest, eaisest way to deal with altitude illness. If you have a child with chronic illness, I suggest you arrange oxygen in advance. Prior to a few years ago, we had to guess how our patients were doing based on what they told us or how they looked. Now we have a machine that easily measures oxygen saturation with a clip on the finger.
Oxygen saturation is the percentage of blood that carries oxygen.
The oxygen saturation is not as accurate as a direct measurement called by arterial blood gas. However this test requires a needle puncture into an artery and can cause mild discomfort. Because the oxygen saturation is easier and cheaper we rely on it instead. Not only can we use it to confirm the diagnosis of altitude illness, but we can also use it to follow our patients once therapy has begun. The widespread use of oxygen saturation has taken much of the guess-work altitude illness diagnosis and management.