People with acute respiratory distress syndrome will usually be admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit, where they receive supplementary oxygen. They may need to be put on a respiratory ventilator to help them breathe. This also helps force some of the fluid out of the lungs. To treat ARDS, doctors will need to treat the underlying cause of the condition. Often, this involves using antibiotics to fight a bacterial infection. The person may be given painkillers to manage any discomfort.

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