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Critical Care71 papers

Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome

Last edited: 4/14/2026

Overview

Reactive Airways Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS) is a condition characterized by acute respiratory symptoms resembling asthma following exposure to toxic fumes or irritants, often without prior respiratory disease history. Symptoms typically include cough, dyspnea, and airflow obstruction that can persist beyond the initial exposure 3.

Diagnosis

  • Clinical history of exposure to irritants or toxic fumes
  • Acute onset of respiratory symptoms including cough, wheezing, and dyspnea
  • Spirometry showing airflow obstruction, often reversible initially
  • Exclusion of other causes of acute respiratory distress 316
  • Management

  • Initial Treatment: Bronchodilators (e.g., short-acting beta-agonists) to relieve symptoms 3
  • Corticosteroids: Systemic or high-dose inhaled corticosteroids to reduce inflammation 3
  • Supportive Care: Oxygen therapy as needed, close monitoring for complications 3
  • Avoidance: Strict avoidance of further exposure to irritants 3
  • Special Populations

  • Pediatrics: Specific data limited; management principles similar to adults but with closer monitoring 16
  • Elderly: Increased risk of comorbidities; tailored management considering overall health status 1
  • Comorbidities: Presence of chronic airways disease may complicate diagnosis and management; careful differentiation from exacerbations required 13
  • Key Recommendations

  • Identify and Avoid Exposure: Promptly identify and remove the patient from the source of irritant exposure to prevent further lung injury (Evidence: Moderate 3)
  • Initiate Bronchodilator Therapy: Use short-acting bronchodilators early in the management to alleviate acute symptoms (Evidence: Moderate 3)
  • Corticosteroid Administration: Administer systemic or high-dose inhaled corticosteroids to manage inflammation effectively (Evidence: Moderate 3)
  • Monitor for Complications: Closely monitor patients for potential multiorgan dysfunction, especially in those with underlying conditions (Evidence: Weak 113)
  • Utilize Spirometry: Employ spirometry to assess reversibility of airflow obstruction and guide treatment adjustments (Evidence: Moderate 16)
  • References

    1 Griffiths B, Alajmi R, Clifton IJ, Birch RJ, Peckham D, Price OJ. Physical inactivity in chronic airways disease: an important candidate in the treatable traits paradigm. European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society 2026. link 2 Van Coillie S, Van San E, Goetschalckx I, Wiernicki B, Mukhopadhyay B, Tonnus W et al.. Targeting ferroptosis protects against experimental (multi)organ dysfunction and death. Nature communications 2022. link 3 Elsey L, Allen D. Management of acute exacerbations of airways disease: advice for the non-respiratory physician. Clinical medicine (London, England) 2021. link 4 Méndez Hernández R, Ramasco Rueda F, Planas Roca A. Extracorporeal CO. Revista espanola de anestesiologia y reanimacion 2020. link 5 Cupido GF, Gelardi M, La Mantia I, Aragona SE, Vicini C, Ciprandi G et al.. Broncalt®, class II medical device, in patients with chronic upper airways disease: a survey in clinical practice. Acta bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis 2019. link 6 Crimi E, Cirri S, Benincasa G, Napoli C. Epigenetics Mechanisms in Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome. Anesthesia and analgesia 2019. link 7 Ariyoshi N, Hiraoka E, Koyamada R. Can folate replacement induce lymphoma progression?. BMJ case reports 2018. link 8 Vanjare N, Chhowala S, Madas S, Kodgule R, Gogtay J, Salvi S. Use of spirometry among chest physicians and primary care physicians in India. NPJ primary care respiratory medicine 2016. link 9 Choksi TT, Madison G, Dar T, Asif M, Fleming K, Clarke L et al.. Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome from Strongyloides stercoralis Hyperinfection in a Patient with Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus-1 Coinfection After Initiation of Ivermectin Treatment. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene 2016. link 10 Nobles IJ, Khan S. Multiorgan dysfunction syndrome secondary to joint supplement overdosage in a dog. The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne 2015. link 11 Tian G, Lu J, Guo H, Liu Q, Wang H. Protective effect of Flt3L on organ structure during advanced multiorgan dysfunction syndrome in mice. Molecular medicine reports 2015. link 12 McConnell KW, Coopersmith CM. Organ failure avoidance and mitigation strategies in surgery. The Surgical clinics of North America 2012. link 13 Ferreira AM, Sakr Y. Organ dysfunction: general approach, epidemiology, and organ failure scores. Seminars in respiratory and critical care medicine 2011. link 14 Krueger M, Heinzmann A, Nauck M. Adhesion molecules in pediatric intensive care patients with organ dysfunction syndrome. Intensive care medicine 2007. link 15 Poole JH. Multiorgan dysfunction in the perinatal patient. Critical care nursing clinics of North America 2004. link 16 Booker R. Testing for reversibility in patients with obstructive airways disease. Nursing times 2003. link 17 Lange H. Multiorgan dysfunction syndrome: how water might contribute to its progression. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine 2002. link 18 Lowrie LH. Renal replacement therapies in pediatric multiorgan dysfunction syndrome. Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, Germany) 2000. link 19 Serratto M, Harris VJ, Carr I. Upper airways obstruction. Presentation with systemic hypertension. Archives of disease in childhood 1981. link

    Original source

    1. [1]
      Physical inactivity in chronic airways disease: an important candidate in the treatable traits paradigm.Griffiths B, Alajmi R, Clifton IJ, Birch RJ, Peckham D, Price OJ European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society (2026)
    2. [2]
      Targeting ferroptosis protects against experimental (multi)organ dysfunction and death.Van Coillie S, Van San E, Goetschalckx I, Wiernicki B, Mukhopadhyay B, Tonnus W et al. Nature communications (2022)
    3. [3]
      Management of acute exacerbations of airways disease: advice for the non-respiratory physician.Elsey L, Allen D Clinical medicine (London, England) (2021)
    4. [4]
      Extracorporeal COMéndez Hernández R, Ramasco Rueda F, Planas Roca A Revista espanola de anestesiologia y reanimacion (2020)
    5. [5]
      Broncalt®, class II medical device, in patients with chronic upper airways disease: a survey in clinical practice.Cupido GF, Gelardi M, La Mantia I, Aragona SE, Vicini C, Ciprandi G et al. Acta bio-medica : Atenei Parmensis (2019)
    6. [6]
      Epigenetics Mechanisms in Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome.Crimi E, Cirri S, Benincasa G, Napoli C Anesthesia and analgesia (2019)
    7. [7]
      Can folate replacement induce lymphoma progression?Ariyoshi N, Hiraoka E, Koyamada R BMJ case reports (2018)
    8. [8]
      Use of spirometry among chest physicians and primary care physicians in India.Vanjare N, Chhowala S, Madas S, Kodgule R, Gogtay J, Salvi S NPJ primary care respiratory medicine (2016)
    9. [9]
      Multiorgan Dysfunction Syndrome from Strongyloides stercoralis Hyperinfection in a Patient with Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus-1 Coinfection After Initiation of Ivermectin Treatment.Choksi TT, Madison G, Dar T, Asif M, Fleming K, Clarke L et al. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene (2016)
    10. [10]
      Multiorgan dysfunction syndrome secondary to joint supplement overdosage in a dog.Nobles IJ, Khan S The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne (2015)
    11. [11]
      Protective effect of Flt3L on organ structure during advanced multiorgan dysfunction syndrome in mice.Tian G, Lu J, Guo H, Liu Q, Wang H Molecular medicine reports (2015)
    12. [12]
      Organ failure avoidance and mitigation strategies in surgery.McConnell KW, Coopersmith CM The Surgical clinics of North America (2012)
    13. [13]
      Organ dysfunction: general approach, epidemiology, and organ failure scores.Ferreira AM, Sakr Y Seminars in respiratory and critical care medicine (2011)
    14. [14]
      Adhesion molecules in pediatric intensive care patients with organ dysfunction syndrome.Krueger M, Heinzmann A, Nauck M Intensive care medicine (2007)
    15. [15]
      Multiorgan dysfunction in the perinatal patient.Poole JH Critical care nursing clinics of North America (2004)
    16. [16]
    17. [17]
      Multiorgan dysfunction syndrome: how water might contribute to its progression.Lange H Journal of cellular and molecular medicine (2002)
    18. [18]
      Renal replacement therapies in pediatric multiorgan dysfunction syndrome.Lowrie LH Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, Germany) (2000)
    19. [19]
      Upper airways obstruction. Presentation with systemic hypertension.Serratto M, Harris VJ, Carr I Archives of disease in childhood (1981)

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