Introduction
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is defined as a process of non-hydrostatic pulmonary edema and hypoxemia. Different etiologies and risk factors have been attributed to the development of ARDS including bacterial or viral pneumonia, sepsis, aspiration of gastrointestinal lumen contents, trauma, and blood transfusion. Bilateral chest opacities on chest X-ray or CT scan are characteristic of ARDS. Supportive therapy with mechanical ventilation and fluid management is the cornerstone of treatment. Corticosteroids have been known as an effective therapy [1, 2]. Pulmonary hydatid cysts caused by a parasitic tapeworm named echinococcus granulosus may cause cough, chest pain, hemoptysis, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, or empyema. Fever and hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis may occur as a consequence of pulmonary hydatid cyst rupture [3].
In this case report, we described a young male who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome after the spontaneous rupture of a pulmonary hydatid cyst. Hydatid cyst-related ARDS is a rare and life-threatening complication that is not still well recognized.