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acute respiratory distress syndrome

American  
[uh-kyoot res-per-uh-tawr-ee di-stres sin-drohm, -druhm] / əˈkyut ˈrɛs pər əˌtɔr i dɪˈstrɛs ˌsɪn droʊm, -drəm /

noun

Pathology.
  1. a disorder, caused by an acute illness or injury that affects the lungs either directly or indirectly, resulting in stiffening of the lung tissue, pulmonary edema, and extreme shortness of breath. ARDS


Etymology

Origin of acute respiratory distress syndrome

First recorded in 2000–05

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Among the children who died from flu last season, the most common complications experienced before death were shock or sepsis, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, seizures and damage to the brain.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

Other diseases that can cause CRS include sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome, COVID-19 infection, and ischemia.

From Science Daily • Jan. 17, 2024

Without treatment, malaria can also lead to seizures, anemia, kidney damage, acute respiratory distress syndrome and even death.

From Washington Times • Oct. 6, 2023

Ismail Mohamed Abdulwahab, from Brixton, died of acute respiratory distress syndrome on 30 March 2020.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2023

This type of scarring can occur in chronic lung diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or as a result of severe lung damage in a condition called acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS.

From Salon • Nov. 11, 2022

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