Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Acute respiratory distress syndrome, commonly abbreviated ARDS, is a severe, life-threatening lung condition in which widespread inflammation causes fluid to leak into the air sacs of the lungs, severely impairing the lungs' ability to transfer oxygen into the bloodstream. It typically develops rapidly, within hours to days, following a serious illness or injury such as severe pneumonia, sepsis, major trauma, or aspiration of stomach contents, and represents the lungs' extreme inflammatory response to these triggers rather than a primary lung disease itself. Patients with ARDS often require mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit to support breathing while the underlying cause is treated and the lungs are given time to heal. Despite modern treatment advances, ARDS carries a significant risk of death and long-term complications in survivors.

The most common symptoms include: severe shortness of breath; rapid; labored breathing; low blood oxygen levels despite supplemental oxygen. Early recognition is key to prompt diagnosis and effective treatment.

No, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is not contagious. It cannot spread through casual contact. However, certain risk factors and genetic predispositions may increase susceptibility.

Treatment options include: Treatment centers on supportive care in an intensive care unit; most critically mechanical ventilation using carefully calibrated low-pressure; protective ventilation strategies designed to support oxygenation while minimizing further lung injury. Positioning patients on their stomach. Treatment should always be guided by a qualified Critical Care Medicine specialist. Do not self-medicate.

While Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome cannot always be fully prevented, several measures can reduce risk: prompt and appropriate treatment of pneumonia and other serious infections; early recognition and treatment of sepsis; careful management of critically ill patients to avoid aspiration.

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience symptoms of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. This is a serious condition — go to the emergency room or call 112 if symptoms are severe or rapidly worsening.