This means that there is still a lot of information that we don't know and there is a continuing need for further research. These conditions cause the body to manufacture substances that may cause inflammation in the lungs. Because ARDS results from many different causes, the symptoms can be variable. Also important are the symptoms associated with the possible triggering cause of the disease. After the patient is diagnosed, supportive treatment will be started or continued.
Proper treatment includes pain control and sedatives to keep the patient calm and comfortable.
At the present time, no specific therapy exists to treat this disorder. The treatment is mainly supportive care in the intensive care unit. Many of the patients will require mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy. The ventilator is a machine which assists the patient's own breathing and helps support the delivery of oxygen to the cells. The patient is closely monitored in the ICU and frequent adjustments are often made to the ventilator to make sure that adequate oxygenation is occurring.