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.
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) include:
- shortness of breath
- taking short, fast breaths
Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if you or someone else:
- have severe difficulty breathing, for example, not being able to get words out, choking, or gasping
- have sudden shortness of breath and pain in your arms, back, neck or jaw
- have sudden shortness of breath and your chest feels tight or heavy
- have sudden shortness of breath and you're feeling sick or being sick
- have sudden shortness of breath and you're coughing up blood
- have sudden shortness of breath and you have pain or swelling in 1 of your legs
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.
ARDS can have long-term effects, such as:
- shortness of breath
- muscle weakness
- pain