Coronavirus—ARDS—The Deadly Companion
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Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a serious lung disease that results from trauma to the lungs; most often that trauma is in the form of severe pneumonia.
ARDS occurs when the tiny blood vessels in the lungs leak fluid into the many small air sacs that make up the lungs. This fluid fills the air sacs, preventing the flow of oxygen back into the bloodstream. This results in shortness of breath, fatigue, and confusion.
If untreated, ARDS can result in collapsed lungs and organ failure. Treatment for most cases of ARDS involves inducing a medical coma in the patient, placing the patient on a ventilator, and waiting for the body to heal itself.
Why should we care about ARDS when the world is focused on COVID-19? A recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine looked at 201 patients who had developed pneumonia as a result of COVID-19. Of those patients, 41% developed ARDS. Of those with ARDS, 52% died.
These patients ranged in age from 43-60 years of age—definitely not the elderly that we are told are at the greatest risk. The fact is, ARDS is a risk for anyone who has severe pneumonia, regardless of age. The likelihood of mortality seems to increase with additional health issues, but even an otherwise healthy teen or young adult can succumb to ARDS.
As more cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in the United States (2,695 confirmed and 58 deaths at this writing), most people seem to have figured out this virus is serious—if not for them, then for someone they love such as parents, grandparents or a child who is diabetic. Generally speaking, the virus seems to be a non-issue for about 80% of the population: the young and healthy may not even know they have been infected. However, for the remaining 20%, COVID-19 can result in a serious, severe, or deadly illness, and at this time, there is no way to predict who in that 20% will develop ARDS.
The numbers, however, don’t lie: at least 50% of those who develop ARDS will succumb to the disease. For this reason, we need to remain vigilant in our attempts to contain the virus. We must take responsibility for not only our own health but for those around us, including those we may not even know. Otherwise, we will lose many to COVID-19—and we don’t have to.
In case you missed it: How I Am Going to Survive Coronavirus Despite Donald Trump
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I didn’t even think of this ARDS thing, just pneumonia-like symptoms, or pneumonia itself. Now I have one more thing to worry about, but not really. At least you explained how it works. Thanks much.
I’m glad you found the article informative. ARDS is frightening to me, and it’s one of the reasons that, as an asthmatic and a person with an autoimmune disorder, I’m very concerned about not getting COVID-19. I want others to be aware of how serious this virus can be for some people–not to spread panic but to convince people to stop being so selfish and to be aware that their actions could possible result in someone else’s illness/death.
ARDS + COVID19=Death…A potentially frightening formula. I wonder why the MSM isn’t telling us more about this. They should be!!
I agree more about how serious the severe cases can be should be discussed. It might make convincing people to self-isolate a little easier. But ARDS is really “medically,” so I’m sure there is some there is some hesitancy to get into explaining how it is different (and worse) than pneumonia. Or maybe it’s just easier to talk about how badly the US is handling the coronavirus pandemic. That is easy to discuss and understand.
Coincidentally, they just talked about this a short while ago on CNN. I was actually preparing this article for publication when it aired. When you put a name to it the whole thing becomes more ominous. The most susceptible age range, it seems, excludes me, which makes me happy, well, not unhappy 🙂 Thanks Tabatha.
I’ve been thinking a lot about that age range in the study. I keep wondering if, since the study was done in a rural area of China, if the age range isn’t skewed a bit low. I suspect the life expectancy in Wuhan may not be as high as it is in the US. I hope additional studies are published eventually from Italy and other places so we have a better idea of the truly susceptible age range.