Considered an emergency, acute respiratory distress syndrome requires rapid management. Asthma is a disease that causes respiratory problems, but currently it is the coronavirus epidemic that is causing the number of affected patients and severe forms to increase.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome, also known as ARDS, is a severe form of respiratory failure. The main symptoms, in adults and children, are:

• Difficulty breathing (dyspnea);
• Floating breathing;
• Fear, anxiety or panic;
• Hypotension.

This syndrome requires immediate therapeutic management, to avoid death. The patient’s initial state of health greatly influences the prognosis of respiratory distress syndrome. However, for most patients it can lead to long-term sequelae.

This inflammatory reaction has different causes:

• The most common are pneumonia, inhalation of gastric fluid;
• The less frequent are inhalation of poisonous gas or fire smoke, lung contusion, drowning, fatty embolism, pancreatitis, multiple blood transfusions.

Among the other known factors in respiratory distress, there is alcoholism, smoking, or chronic pulmonary pathologies, acidosis and genetic predispositions.

As indicated by the College of Intensive Medicine Teachers in Resuscitation, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is “The expression of an attack on the alveolar-capillary membrane which can be direct (…) or indirect”.

Often asymptomatic, people with Covid-19 do not always have symptoms. However, a high fever and a persistent cough may appear: in this case contact your doctor, stay confined to your home for at least 15 days and avoid all contact with people sharing your home.

On the other hand, if your symptoms are similar to a severe flu, you feel tired and feel a need for oxygen: contact the Samu on 15. Severe forms of the Covid-19 coronavirus represent 5 to 10% of cases. The populations most at risk for Covid-19 are the elderly and immunocompromised patients. Young healthy people may also be affected. Note that people with asthma represent only 2% of cases in severe forms of the coronavirus when their basic treatment is well followed. Finally, diabetes, hypertension and smoking could be aggravating factors for Covid-19.

When you are dealing with someone with symptoms of respiratory distress:

– Make the victim comfortable (semi-seated position) and loosen his clothes;

– Advise him to lean forward slightly, this will help him breathe better;

– Ask the victim if she has any medicines and help her to take it;

– If the asthma attack gets worse and doesn’t stop, call for help.

The emergency services will then be able to carry out oxygenation in intensive care using mechanical ventilation.

Hyperventilation is a state of respiratory distress that lowers the level of carbon dioxide in the blood.

Signs and Symptoms:

– Rapid breathing and feeling of suffocation;

– Panic or confusion;

– Dizziness, weakness and nausea;

– Numbness in the hands, feet and around the mouth;

– Loss of consciousness.

Treatments:

– Comfort the victim and keep calm;

– Advise him to breathe by contracting his lips and to take increasingly slow and deep breaths;

– If the crisis does not stop, call for help.