Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentRecovery/PrognosisFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Recovery/Prognosis
Frequently Asked Questions
“Wet lung” is a casual term foracute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This condition occurs when the lungs are filled with fluid instead of air. The fluid in wet lung could be pus from infection, fluid backed up in the lungs from heart disease, or blood from either lung or heart disease.
Wet lung can affect anyone regardless of age. It is a medical emergency and it can be life-threatening if left untreated.
This article outlines what you need to know about wet lung (ARDS), including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment.
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Wet Lung Symptoms
Symptoms and signs of wet lung can vary, depending on the underlying cause. They include:
Though most people who develop wet lung are already in the hospital following a trauma, infection, or other illness, sometimes ARDS symptoms can appear at home.
If you show any signs or symptoms of low oxygen or lung injury, seek medical care right away. The condition is serious and can lead to organ failure or death.
Causes of Lung Inflammation
Wet Lung Causes
When you breathe air into your lungs, it enters ducts that deliver it to the alveoli. Oxygen passes through small blood vessels in the alveoli and into the bloodstream. From there, oxygen is transported to your heart, liver, kidneys, brain, and other organs.
When alveoli are compromised, fluid such as pus or blood can build up in the sacs, making it hard for the lungs to fill with air. This interferes with the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs.
Many different conditions and illnesses can lead to wet lung/ARDS. These may include:
Can You Get Your Lung Strength Back After COVID?
What Increases Your Risk
Wet lung can happen for many reasons. Some people are more at risk of developing ARDS, or conditions that lead to it, than others.
Alcohol use:Excessivealcoholuse or abuse has been linked to an increased risk of sepsis, a leading cause of ARDS. In addition:
Lung conditions or tobacco use:There are a number of diseases and conditions that can damage lung function and create an environment that encourages wet lung/ARDS to develop.Pneumoniais one example. Smoking can also cause damage to the alveoli that makes it hard for your lungs to clear fluid.
Blood vessel inflammation:Also calledvasculitis,inflammationin the arteries, veins, or capillaries can happen anywhere in the body, including the lungs.It can lead to wet lung if it narrows the capillaries in the lungs and makes oxygen transfer more difficult.
Environmental factors:Long-term exposure to toxic chemicals or pollution can cause lung damage that builds up over time. ARDS/wet lung can also happen from a sudden exposures to dangerous chemical fumes (or toxic combinations, like bleach and ammonia) that damage the lungs quickly.
Lung surgery:Wet lung is a complication of certain types of lung surgeries, like a lung resection (when part of the lung is removed).
Age:Wet lung can also become a more likely possibility with age. As you get older, both your lung function and immune response can weaken. This can make it harder to fight off infections that could lead to ARDS.
Chemotherapy:ARDS has been linked tochemotherapy.
Wet Lung and Lung Consolidation
How Wet Lung Is Diagnosed
There is no specific test for ARDS. Instead, your healthcare provider will make a diagnosis of wet lung based on medical history, a physical exam, and the results of imaging or other tests that can rule out other conditions that have similar symptoms.
Medical History and a Physical Exam
Your healthcare provider will ask you about any medical conditions and circumstances that could increase your risk for wet lung. They will also ask you about your symptoms and whether you have an existing heart or lung condition.
In your physical exam, a healthcare provider will:
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Tests and Imaging
There are a range of tests that can be used to check for wet lung.
First, youroxygen levelandblood pressurewill be measured.
Pulse oximetryis used to assess your blood oxygen levels. A sensor is attached to the skin or placed on your hand or foot, and a reading appears on a monitor in a few seconds.
Your healthcare provider will also requestblood workto determine oxygen levels using samples taken from an artery (usually in the wrist). Low levels of oxygen in the blood are also a sign of ARDS.
Your healthcare provider may also check your blood for signs of infection, or heart and kidney problems.
Fluid accumulation in the lungs orheart enlargementcan be spotted using imaging studies.X-raysandcomputerized tomography (CT) scansmay be considered, though CT scans can offer more detailed information about heart and lung structures. Fluid in the air sacs of the lungs can confirm ARDS.
Anechocardiogramorelectrocardiogram,both heart function tests, can rule out heart conditions that mimic ARDS.
Alung biopsymay be done to help rule out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms. This involves taking a sample of tissue from the lung and having it examined under a microscope.
Is Respiratory Arrest the Same as Cardiac Arrest?
Wet Lung Treatment
Improving blood oxygen levels to prevent organ damage and treating the injury or condition that caused the condition to develop are the key goals of treatment.
This may involve breathing support, medications, or other therapies. Treatment is different for each person.
Tidal Volume and Your Lung Health
Breathing Support
Depending on the seriousness of your case of wet lung, your body may need extra support to breathe or to improve oxygen flow.
Milder cases may only requiresupplemental oxygen(delivered through a mask that fits over the nose and mouth).
People with more severe ARDS may requireventilation.A mechanical ventilator pushes air into the lungs and helps force some of the fluid out of the alveoli.
If ventilation isn’t enough to sufficiently oxygenate the blood, a device likeextracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO) may be used. This works as an artificial lung: Blood is pumped into the machine, where oxygen is added and carbon dioxide is removed, then pumped back into the body.
Finally, the body may be positioned facedown to help more oxygen get into the lungs.
Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome and Wet Lung
Medications
Wet lung can be treated with medications such as:
Is ECMO Used for Wet Lung?
Other Wet Lung Treatments
Additional treatments your healthcare provider may recommend for wet lung include:
Hypoexemia and Wet Lung
Wet Lung Recovery and Prognosis
In some cases, the road to recovering from ARDS can be hard and it can take months or years. Some people with wet lung will need additional hospital visits. Make sure you are asking for help from loved ones, especially when you first come home from the hospital.
Wet lung sometimes gets better with physical therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation, which can help you regain lung function, improve your overall strength during the recovery process, and help you resume your normal activities.If your healthcare provider recommends these, be sure to pursue them.
While recovering from ARDS, you should do everything you can to protect your lungs. This includes:
The prognosis for patients with wet lung depends on the underlying cause, how bad the case is, whether a ventilator was used and if organs were damaged due to decreased oxygen.
Patients who recover from ARDS may have scarring in the lungs that can impact lung function even after recovery.Scarring is more common in patients who have been on a ventilator.
People who develop ARDS during a COVID-19 infection have a greater risk of developing long-COVID, or COVID-related symptoms that last more than a few weeks after infection. Obesity appears to increase this risk.
Most people recover from ARDS, but it can be fatal.
How to Clear COVID Lung Congestion
Summary
ARDS can develop suddenly and cause damage quickly. In addition to taking steps to minimize your personal risk, it’s important to know the signs of ARDS (breathing trouble, bluish lips/nails, etc.) Seek medical care right away if they occur.
Treatments can help manage symptoms and help you recover, though their effectiveness depends on the case.
Reasons You Have a Wet Cough
A Word From Verywell
It is not unusual for people who have had wet lung or another lung condition to experience depression.
If you find you are feeling depressed or struggling to cope, joining a support group for others living with lung conditions or getting in touch with a mental health professional can be helpful.
A person with wet lung in respiratory distress may have trouble breathing, a fast heartbeat, abnormal breathing sounds, and feel very tired. In some cases, their lips might turn blue (cyanosis).Learn MoreWhat Is Cyanosis?
A person with wet lung in respiratory distress may have trouble breathing, a fast heartbeat, abnormal breathing sounds, and feel very tired. In some cases, their lips might turn blue (cyanosis).
Learn MoreWhat Is Cyanosis?
Learn MoreSymptoms of Infections
Most people recover from wet lung, but about 30% to 40% of cases are fatal.
What Does It Mean If You Have Abnormal Breath Sounds?
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Fernando SM, Ferreyro BL, Urner M, Munshi L, Fan E.Diagnosis and management of acute respiratory distress syndrome.CMAJ.2021;193(21):E761-8. doi:10.1503/cmaj.202661Hon KL, Leung KKY, Oberender F, Leung AK.Paediatrics: how to manage acute respiratory distress syndrome.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2021-1-9. doi:10.7573/dic.2021-1-9American Lung Association.Learn about ARDS.Siegel M.Acute respiratory distress syndrome: Clinical features, diagnosis, and complications in adults. In: Parsons P, Finlay G, eds.UpToDate. Waltham, Mass: UpToDate; 2019.Gibson PG, Qin L, Puah SH.COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): clinical features and differences from typical pre-COVID-19 ARDS.Med J Aust. 2020;213(2):54-56.e1. doi:10.5694/mja2.50674Simou E, Leonardi-Bee J, Britton J.The effect of alcohol consumption on the risk of ARDS: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Chest. 2018;154(1):58-68. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2017.11.041Moazed F, Burnham EL, Vandivier RW, et al.Cigarette smokers have exaggerated alveolar barrier disruption in response to lipopolysaccharide inhalation.Thorax. 2016;71(12):1130-1136. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2015-207886National Organization of Rare Disorders.Vasculitis.Kang V, Lauf R, Jordan K.Household bleach inhalation and ARDS.Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019;199:A1799. doi:10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2019.199.1_MeetingAbstracts.A1799Mazzella A, Iacono GL, Alifano M.Postpneumonectomy respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome: risk factors and outcome.Shanghai Chest. 2021;5(8). doi:10.21037/shc.2020.04.02Chien SC, Chien SC, Hu TY.Rapid-onset acute respiratory distress syndrome after mastectomy in a breast cancer patient: A case report and review of literature.Medicine. 2020;99(43). doi:10.1097%2FMD.0000000000022795National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Acute respiratory distress syndrome.American Lung Association.ARDS treatment and recovery.Heubner L, Petrick PL, Güldner A, et al.Extreme obesity is a strong predictor for in-hospital mortality and the prevalence of long-COVID in severe COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):18418. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-22107-1Matthay MA, Zemans RL, Zimmerman GA, et al.Acute respiratory distress syndrome.Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2019;5(1):18. doi:10.1038/s41572-019-0069-0Bienvenu OJ, Friedman LA, Colantuoni E, et al.Psychiatric symptoms after acute respiratory distress syndrome: a 5-year longitudinal study.Intensive Care Med. 2018;44:38-47. doi:10.1007/s00134-017-5009-4
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Fernando SM, Ferreyro BL, Urner M, Munshi L, Fan E.Diagnosis and management of acute respiratory distress syndrome.CMAJ.2021;193(21):E761-8. doi:10.1503/cmaj.202661Hon KL, Leung KKY, Oberender F, Leung AK.Paediatrics: how to manage acute respiratory distress syndrome.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2021-1-9. doi:10.7573/dic.2021-1-9American Lung Association.Learn about ARDS.Siegel M.Acute respiratory distress syndrome: Clinical features, diagnosis, and complications in adults. In: Parsons P, Finlay G, eds.UpToDate. Waltham, Mass: UpToDate; 2019.Gibson PG, Qin L, Puah SH.COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): clinical features and differences from typical pre-COVID-19 ARDS.Med J Aust. 2020;213(2):54-56.e1. doi:10.5694/mja2.50674Simou E, Leonardi-Bee J, Britton J.The effect of alcohol consumption on the risk of ARDS: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Chest. 2018;154(1):58-68. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2017.11.041Moazed F, Burnham EL, Vandivier RW, et al.Cigarette smokers have exaggerated alveolar barrier disruption in response to lipopolysaccharide inhalation.Thorax. 2016;71(12):1130-1136. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2015-207886National Organization of Rare Disorders.Vasculitis.Kang V, Lauf R, Jordan K.Household bleach inhalation and ARDS.Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019;199:A1799. doi:10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2019.199.1_MeetingAbstracts.A1799Mazzella A, Iacono GL, Alifano M.Postpneumonectomy respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome: risk factors and outcome.Shanghai Chest. 2021;5(8). doi:10.21037/shc.2020.04.02Chien SC, Chien SC, Hu TY.Rapid-onset acute respiratory distress syndrome after mastectomy in a breast cancer patient: A case report and review of literature.Medicine. 2020;99(43). doi:10.1097%2FMD.0000000000022795National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Acute respiratory distress syndrome.American Lung Association.ARDS treatment and recovery.Heubner L, Petrick PL, Güldner A, et al.Extreme obesity is a strong predictor for in-hospital mortality and the prevalence of long-COVID in severe COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):18418. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-22107-1Matthay MA, Zemans RL, Zimmerman GA, et al.Acute respiratory distress syndrome.Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2019;5(1):18. doi:10.1038/s41572-019-0069-0Bienvenu OJ, Friedman LA, Colantuoni E, et al.Psychiatric symptoms after acute respiratory distress syndrome: a 5-year longitudinal study.Intensive Care Med. 2018;44:38-47. doi:10.1007/s00134-017-5009-4
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Fernando SM, Ferreyro BL, Urner M, Munshi L, Fan E.Diagnosis and management of acute respiratory distress syndrome.CMAJ.2021;193(21):E761-8. doi:10.1503/cmaj.202661Hon KL, Leung KKY, Oberender F, Leung AK.Paediatrics: how to manage acute respiratory distress syndrome.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2021-1-9. doi:10.7573/dic.2021-1-9American Lung Association.Learn about ARDS.Siegel M.Acute respiratory distress syndrome: Clinical features, diagnosis, and complications in adults. In: Parsons P, Finlay G, eds.UpToDate. Waltham, Mass: UpToDate; 2019.Gibson PG, Qin L, Puah SH.COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): clinical features and differences from typical pre-COVID-19 ARDS.Med J Aust. 2020;213(2):54-56.e1. doi:10.5694/mja2.50674Simou E, Leonardi-Bee J, Britton J.The effect of alcohol consumption on the risk of ARDS: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Chest. 2018;154(1):58-68. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2017.11.041Moazed F, Burnham EL, Vandivier RW, et al.Cigarette smokers have exaggerated alveolar barrier disruption in response to lipopolysaccharide inhalation.Thorax. 2016;71(12):1130-1136. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2015-207886National Organization of Rare Disorders.Vasculitis.Kang V, Lauf R, Jordan K.Household bleach inhalation and ARDS.Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019;199:A1799. doi:10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2019.199.1_MeetingAbstracts.A1799Mazzella A, Iacono GL, Alifano M.Postpneumonectomy respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome: risk factors and outcome.Shanghai Chest. 2021;5(8). doi:10.21037/shc.2020.04.02Chien SC, Chien SC, Hu TY.Rapid-onset acute respiratory distress syndrome after mastectomy in a breast cancer patient: A case report and review of literature.Medicine. 2020;99(43). doi:10.1097%2FMD.0000000000022795National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Acute respiratory distress syndrome.American Lung Association.ARDS treatment and recovery.Heubner L, Petrick PL, Güldner A, et al.Extreme obesity is a strong predictor for in-hospital mortality and the prevalence of long-COVID in severe COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):18418. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-22107-1Matthay MA, Zemans RL, Zimmerman GA, et al.Acute respiratory distress syndrome.Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2019;5(1):18. doi:10.1038/s41572-019-0069-0Bienvenu OJ, Friedman LA, Colantuoni E, et al.Psychiatric symptoms after acute respiratory distress syndrome: a 5-year longitudinal study.Intensive Care Med. 2018;44:38-47. doi:10.1007/s00134-017-5009-4
Fernando SM, Ferreyro BL, Urner M, Munshi L, Fan E.Diagnosis and management of acute respiratory distress syndrome.CMAJ.2021;193(21):E761-8. doi:10.1503/cmaj.202661
Hon KL, Leung KKY, Oberender F, Leung AK.Paediatrics: how to manage acute respiratory distress syndrome.Drugs Context. 2021;10:2021-1-9. doi:10.7573/dic.2021-1-9
American Lung Association.Learn about ARDS.
Siegel M.Acute respiratory distress syndrome: Clinical features, diagnosis, and complications in adults. In: Parsons P, Finlay G, eds.UpToDate. Waltham, Mass: UpToDate; 2019.
Gibson PG, Qin L, Puah SH.COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): clinical features and differences from typical pre-COVID-19 ARDS.Med J Aust. 2020;213(2):54-56.e1. doi:10.5694/mja2.50674
Simou E, Leonardi-Bee J, Britton J.The effect of alcohol consumption on the risk of ARDS: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Chest. 2018;154(1):58-68. doi:10.1016/j.chest.2017.11.041
Moazed F, Burnham EL, Vandivier RW, et al.Cigarette smokers have exaggerated alveolar barrier disruption in response to lipopolysaccharide inhalation.Thorax. 2016;71(12):1130-1136. doi:10.1136/thoraxjnl-2015-207886
National Organization of Rare Disorders.Vasculitis.
Kang V, Lauf R, Jordan K.Household bleach inhalation and ARDS.Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019;199:A1799. doi:10.1164/ajrccm-conference.2019.199.1_MeetingAbstracts.A1799
Mazzella A, Iacono GL, Alifano M.Postpneumonectomy respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome: risk factors and outcome.Shanghai Chest. 2021;5(8). doi:10.21037/shc.2020.04.02
Chien SC, Chien SC, Hu TY.Rapid-onset acute respiratory distress syndrome after mastectomy in a breast cancer patient: A case report and review of literature.Medicine. 2020;99(43). doi:10.1097%2FMD.0000000000022795
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.Acute respiratory distress syndrome.
American Lung Association.ARDS treatment and recovery.
Heubner L, Petrick PL, Güldner A, et al.Extreme obesity is a strong predictor for in-hospital mortality and the prevalence of long-COVID in severe COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):18418. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-22107-1
Matthay MA, Zemans RL, Zimmerman GA, et al.Acute respiratory distress syndrome.Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2019;5(1):18. doi:10.1038/s41572-019-0069-0
Bienvenu OJ, Friedman LA, Colantuoni E, et al.Psychiatric symptoms after acute respiratory distress syndrome: a 5-year longitudinal study.Intensive Care Med. 2018;44:38-47. doi:10.1007/s00134-017-5009-4
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