As of the beginning of November 2020, the CDC has reported well over 200,000 American deaths from the novel Coronavirus. While we’re still trying to understand exactly what causes so many people to die from COVID-19, some signs stand out from the rest.
One of these deadly symptoms of COVID-19 is acute respiratory distress syndrome, also known as ARDS. What is ARDS, what causes it, and is it possible to treat?
For the answers to these questions, keep reading through our need-to-know guide to acute respiratory distress syndrome.
What Is Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome?
Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a form of lung inflammation that severely impairs breathing.
When the capillaries (tiny blood vessels) in your lungs swell, they begin to leak fluid. The fluid can fill or collapse your alveoli (air sacs), making normal breathing difficult. This can lead to dangerously low blood oxygen levels in a short amount of time.
Along with COVID-19 infections, ARDS can also result from several other serious medical conditions. These include:
- sepsis
- pneumonia
- toxic or caustic chemical inhalation
- aspiration
- near-drowning
- head or chest injury
- severe burns
- pancreatitis
- massive blood transfusions
While this condition has a wide range of causes, it always presents with a similar group of symptoms.
Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Symptoms
ARDS symptoms may start mild, but they can quickly progress into something more serious. The primary signs to watch for include:
- shortness of breath
- labored or difficult breathing
- rapid breathing
- significantly low blood pressure
- confusion or agitation
- extreme feelings of exhaustion or fatigue
- cough with or without frothy white or pink sputum
To diagnose ARDS, physicians will take note of your symptoms and administer several tests. These can include x-ray imaging of the chest, phlegm or sputum analysis, and blood tests.
Treating ARDS
Treating ARDS always starts by addressing the cause. This may mean surgically treating an injury, administering antibiotics to fight a bacterial infection, or some combination of vasopressors, diuretics, and blood thinners.
Because ARDS causes low oxygen levels, the primary form of treatment is supplemental oxygen. Severe acute respiratory distress syndrome often requires a ventilator to take over breathing control and push oxygen into your lungs. Patients may also need a tracheostomy, a temporary feeding tube, or prolonged prone positioning.
Even with this treatment, an estimated 32-45% of ARDS cases from any cause will still prove fatal.
When it comes to treating ARDS in COVID-19 patients, there aren’t any foolproof approaches yet. There are, however, several experimental medicines like gimsilumab in development. Researchers hope that this drug will target the cytokine storm that’s responsible for the overactive immune response some patients experience.
Learn More About ARDS
Acute respiratory distress syndrome is a dangerous condition that’s often fatal. Doctors and scientists are still working to develop effective treatments for ARDS caused by a COVID-19 infection.
Until then, prevention continues to be the best cure. Keep washing your hands, wearing a mask, and following social-distance guidelines to lower your risk of infection.
For more insight into your health and the COVID-19 pandemic, keep checking back with our site for articles like this.
