Which condition involves water aspirated into the lungs?

• A. Wet Drowning
• B. Dry Drowning
• C. Altitude Sickness
• D. Air Embolism

Answer: (A)

Water entering the airways and reaching the lungs defines the drowning type where water is aspirated, leading to alveolar flooding and impaired gas exchange. This is the wet drowning scenario, where inhaled water disrupts surfactant function and causes ventilation–perfusion mismatch, resulting in hypoxemia and respiratory distress. Dry drowning, in contrast, involves little to no water entering the lungs because airway closure or laryngospasm prevents aspiration. Altitude sickness is due to reduced oxygen availability at high altitude and is unrelated to water aspiration. Air embolism involves air bubbles in the bloodstream, not aspiration into the lungs.