Adult respiratory distress syndrome is caused by illnesses that damage the lungs. The damage allows fluid to leak from the blood vessels, into the small air sacs, where oxygen is transferred to the bloodstream. The fluid prevents oxygen from entering the bloodstream.

Conditions that cause adult respiratory distress syndrome include:

• Drug reactions
• Head injury
• High altitude illness
• Blood transfusions
• Near drowning
• Pulmonary embolism
• Radiation poisoning
• Sepsis
• Severe pneumonia
• Shock
• Smoke inhalation
• Toxic inhalations
• Trauma