Overview
Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) is a severe, life-threatening condition characterized by acute, diffuse inflammatory lung injury in children. It results in widespread damage to the alveolar-capillary membrane, leading to increased pulmonary vascular permeability, pulmonary edema, and progressive hypoxemic respiratory failure. PARDS can be triggered by a variety of direct lung insults (such as pneumonia, aspiration, or inhalation injury) or indirect systemic insults (such as sepsis, trauma, pancreatitis, or transfusion-related injury). The condition primarily affects the respiratory system but can lead to multi-organ dysfunction due to systemic inflammation and prolonged hypoxia. Key clinical features include acute onset of severe hypoxemia (low blood oxygen levels), bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on chest imaging not fully explained by cardiac failure or fluid overload, decreased lung compliance, and increased work of breathing. Children may present with tachypnea, respiratory distress, cyanosis, and the need for mechanical ventilation. The severity of PARDS is classified based on the oxygenation index or the oxygen saturation index, as defined by the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury Consensus Conference (PALICC) criteria. Treatment is primarily supportive, as no specific pharmacological cure exists. Management centers on lung-protective mechanical ventilation strategies, including the use of low tidal volumes and appropriate positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) to minimize ventilator-induced lung injury. Additional interventions may include prone positioning, conservative fluid management, neuromuscular blockade in severe cases, and in refractory situations, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Treatment of the underlying cause is essential. Mortality rates vary depending on severity and underlying etiology but remain significant, and survivors may experience long-term pulmonary and neurodevelopmental sequelae.
Also known as:
Clinical phenotype terms— hover any for plain English:
Variable
Can begin at different ages, from infancy through adulthood
FDA & Trial Timeline
10 eventsFondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico — NA
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia — PHASE2
Hospital de Alta Complejidad en Red
Ain Shams University
Children's Hospital Los Angeles — NA
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Seventh Medical Center of PLA General Hospital — NA
Dr. Behcet Uz Children's Hospital — NA
University of Michigan
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome.
9 clinical trialsare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.
View clinical trials →Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Complications of the Alveolar Opening Maneuver in Children on Mechanical Ventilation
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome
New recruiting trial: Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Management Trial
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome
New recruiting trial: Dead Space and Inhaled Nitric Oxide in Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome
New recruiting trial: ARDS in Children and ECMO Initiation Strategies Impact on Neurodevelopment (ASCEND)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome
New recruiting trial: Turning Ratios Into Prognosis: Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratios as Powerful Predictors of ARDS in Pediatric Burn Patients: A Prospective Evaluation
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome
New recruiting trial: Decremental Esophageal Catheter Filling Volume Titration For Transpulmonary Pressure Measurement
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome
New recruiting trial: Prone Position During ECMO in Pediatric Patients With Severe ARDS
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome
New recruiting trial: Clinical Decision Support Tool in PARDS Pilot Study
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome
New recruiting trial: Pediatric Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) Titration Using Electrical Impedence Tomography (EIT)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Common questions about Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome
What is Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome?
Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS) is a severe, life-threatening condition characterized by acute, diffuse inflammatory lung injury in children. It results in widespread damage to the alveolar-capillary membrane, leading to increased pulmonary vascular permeability, pulmonary edema, and progressive hypoxemic respiratory failure. PARDS can be triggered by a variety of direct lung insults (such as pneumonia, aspiration, or inhalation injury) or indirect systemic insults (such as sepsis, trauma, pancreatitis, or transfusion-related injury). The condition primarily affects the r
Are there clinical trials for Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome?
Yes — 9 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome?
25 specialists and care centers treating Pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.