Pulmonary Hydrothrosis

Pulmonary Hydrothrosis, or "Drown" as it's colloquially known, is a respiratory condition that results in the accumulation of excess fluid in the lungs, leading to internal drowning. It is a severe and often fatal condition exacerbated by poor air quality in certain stations.

It's caused by an inhalation of airborne pathogens present in stations with substandard air quality (i.e. Eir, Basalt, sometimes Allium). These pathogens thrive in neglected environments where Breath Synthesizers fail to function correctly. Once inhaled, the pathogens cause a slow build-up of fluid in the alveoli, the tiny air sacs in the lungs responsible for gas exchange.

Symptoms

Stage One

• A persistent cough;
• shortness of breath;
• mild chest discomfort;
• fatigue.

Stage Two

• Wheezing;
• increaded difficulty breathing;
• wet cough with frothy sputum;
• swelling in the lower extremities due to fluid retention;
• frequent respiratory infections.

Stage Three

• Severe shortness of breath, even at rest;
• cyanosis;
• rapid, shallow, breathing;
• acute chest pain;
• loss of consciousness.

Treatment

Medical attention is required to prevent further fluid accumulation; however, it's accessibility is a gamble. Upper-class stations don't have to worry about getting quick responses but lower-class or even middle-class citizens get delays which makes the treatment less accessible.

There's different medications available to deal with the symptoms. Oxygen therapy is also sometimes recommended, as well as mechanical ventilation in more severe cases. There are also minimally invasive operations to drain the excess fluid from the lungs.

Prognosis

Stage one leaves a high chance of recovery with minimal long-term effects. Stage two lowers those chances as it's probable for there to be lasting damage to lung tissue.

For Stage Three, treatment can manage symptoms, but complete recovery is rare; patients often suffer from chronic respiratory issues. It's prolonging the inevitable.

Without the treatment, the condition quickly progresses to next stages and at the last one, the mortality rates are particularly high due to respiratory failure and internal drowning.