Table 1 Aetiology of ARDS of the 39 children

Pulmonary ARDS (p-ARDS) n = 31 (79.5%)

 Diffuse pulmonary infection: bacterial (n = 7), viral (n = 8) or both (n = 1)

 Aspiration (n = 2)

 Toxic fume inhalation (n = 3)

 Near drowning (n = 1)

 Pneumocystic pneumonia or opportunistic infection (n = 4)

 Acute chest syndrome of sickle cell disease (n = 1)

 Foreign body inhalation (n = 1)

 Alveolar haemorrhage (n = 2)

 Ethylenglycol inhalation (n = 1)

Extra-pulmonary ARDS (ep-ARDS) n = 8 (20.5%)

 Burns (n = 2)

 Septic shock (n = 5)

 Acute necrotizing pancreatitis and leukaemia (n = 1)