HEALTH CONDITION
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening illness that can happen when your lungs are not working properly. ARDS is usually a complication of other serious conditions and is treated in hospital.
Who is at risk of getting acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) usually affects people who are already unwell. Causes of ARDS can include: sepsis infections such as pneumonia acute pancreatitis accidentally inhaling vomit or food drowning smoke inhalation severe injuries having blood transfusions having a lung transplant
Symptoms of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Symptoms of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) include: shortness of breath taking short, fast breaths
Treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is treated in hospital, usually in an intensive care unit (ICU) . Treatment may include: oxygen, which you breathe in using a mask ventilation, where a machine is used to breathe for you medicines, such as antibiotics to treat infection fluids given through a vein ARDS is a life-threatening condition and cannot always be cured. There's a chance someone who has it may die.
Complications of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
ARDS can have long-term effects, such as: shortness of breath muscle weakness pain
Source: NHS, last reviewed 12 July 2023. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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