Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Acute respiratory distress syndrome
Fluid is accumulated inside the alveoli which are small sacs in lungs. This will lead to reduce oxygen tension in the blood as fluid cause hurdles for air to come in the lungs.
Symptoms
Patient of ARDS presents with following clinical features.
Severe breathing difficulty.
Irregularly increase breathing movements.
Confusion and fatigue
Causes
There are a lot of causes that can lead to acute respiratory distress like sepsis, severe pneumonia, major injuries of chest and head, COVID-19, burns and pancreatitis.
Complications
Thrombosis in the deep veins of legs can be a major complication of ARDS. This can sometimes lead to pulmonary emboli.
Pneumothorax in which your lungs become collapsed.
Severe bacterial infections
Pulmonary fibrosis.
Muscle weakness.
Breathing problems.
Diagnosis
X-ray imagining and CT scan confirm the affected areas of lungs that are filled with fluid. Different laboratory tests are run to find out oxygen saturation in the blood, anemia or any kind of bacterial infection. Electrocardiogram and echocardiogram are prescribed.
Treatment
Supplementary oxygen and mechanical ventilators to aid in the oxygen depletion in the body.
Management of fluid intake is crucial as too much fluid lead to lung failure and too little fluid can lead to shock.
Medications are prescribed to relive pain, discomfort, gastric reflux, and helping to prevent blood clot formation.
Home Remedies
Limit smoking and keep yourself away from others who are smoking.
Get yearly flu vaccine.