How is Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) different from RDS? Solution Answer: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a medical condition characterized by inflammation in the lungs. ARDS is not a particular disease, rather it is a clinical phenotype which may be triggered by various pathologies such as trauma, pneumonia and sepsis. ARDS results in injury to cells which form the alveolar barrier, surfactant dysfunction, activation of the innate immune response, and abnormal coagulation. In effect, ARDS results in impaired gas exchange within the lungs at the level of the microscopic alveoli. The terminology of \"adult respiratory distress syndrome\" has been used to differentiate ARDS from \"infant respiratory distress syndrome\" (RDS) in neonates, however, international consensus is that \"acute respiratory distress syndrome\" is the best term because ARDS can affect those of all ages..