What's the difference between ARDS and SARS?

which is more dangerous? how are they the same, how are they different?

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV). SARS was first reported in Asia in February 2003. Over the next few months, the illness spread to more than two dozen countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia before the SARS global outbreak of 2003 was contained.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), also known as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) or adult respiratory distress syndrome (in contrast with IRDS) is a serious reaction to various forms of injuries to the lung. This is the most important disorder resulting in increased permeability pulmonary edema.

ARDS is a severe lung disease caused by a variety of direct and indirect insults. It is characterized by inflammation of the lung parenchyma leading to impaired gas exchange with concomitant systemic release of inflammatory mediators causing inflammation, hypoxemia and frequently resulting in multiple organ failure. This condition is life threatening and often lethal, usually requiring mechanical ventilation and admission to an intensive care unit. A less severe form is called acute lung injury (ALI).

ARDS formerly most commonly signified adult respiratory distress syndrome to differentiate it from infant respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants. However, as this type of pulmonary edema also occurs in children, ARDS has gradually shifted to mean acute rather than adult. The differences with the typical infant syndrome remain.

I would say that SARS has the potential to be more dangerous because it is caused by a virus. However, careful control of infected patients can limit the potential threat. ARDS definitely kills many more people every year worldwide. The only real similarity is both have the capacity to kill. Hope this helps answer your questions.

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ARDS acute respiratory distress syndrome characterized by a sudden and progressive pulmonary edema (swelling), ^ bilateral infiltrates on chest xray, hypoxemia (Even while on O2 low oxygen being taken in) refractory to oxygen supplementation, and reduced lung compliance (lungs stiff). A wide range of factors are associated with development of ARDS including direct injury to the lungs (smoke inhalation) or indirect insult to the lungs (shock). Treatment may begin with identifying & treating the underlying cause (smoke inhalation). The pt is critically ill and requires close monitoring because the situation could quickly change to a life threatening situation!! SARS severe acute respiratory syndrome is an influenza like disease, with pts presenting with fever and cough. In March 2003, the World Health Organization issued a global warning about the appearance of a newly recognized type of pneumonia (in China), SARS. From what I've found on these two I would say ARDS is more serious! Good Luck!

I like the copy and paste answer but in laymens terms, ARDS Is a respiratory distress that happens when the lungs get stiff and the air can't move in and out as efficently, it is a common disease for someone who has been on a ventilator for a bit or has other lung/chest traumas. SARS is a sudden onset respiratory distress that just happens with no underlying cause except the bacteria that causes it. Personally I think SARS is worse because the medical community isn't educated enough about it and we caren't quite sure how to treat it. ARDS has been around for years and there are many proven ways to treat it.