ARDS (adult respiratory distress syndrome)

Alternative names:

acute respiratory distress syndrome; congestive atelectasis; pump lung; shock lung; stiff lung

Symptoms:

• labored, rapid breathing
• nasal flaring
• cyanosis blue skin, lips, and nails caused by lack of oxygen to the tissues
• breathing difficulty
• anxiety, stress, and tension

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• joint stiffness
• joint pain
• breathing, absent temporarily

Signs and tests:

Chest auscultation (examination with a stethoscope) reveals abnormal breath sounds.

Tests used in the diagnosis of ARDS include:

• chest X-ray
• arterial blood gas