The Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a complex syndrome that was first described in the late 60s, affects critically ill patients and is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and touted as a serious illness. Objective: To identify risk factors associated with the onset of ARDS, and to identify demographic, PaO2/FiO2 levels, presence of malnutrition, prematurity, chronic lung disease in pediatric ICU patients in Colsubsidio Child Clinic in Bogotá, between January 2003 to December 2008. Materials and methods: We performed an analitical study of cases and controls were done , with relation control and cases of 2:1 .the control group was composed of 62 patients and 31 cases. Results: It was found tobe significantly associated to the three main factors of risk for ADRS : Sepsis 33.9% vs. 15.6% (p = 0.0002, OR = 5.6, 95% CI = 2.20, 14.03), pneumonia (p = 0.6380, OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.32, 2.00) and bronchiolitis (p = 0.0515, OR = 0.395, CI 95 % = 0.157, 1.01). Hospital stay 14.7 ± 16.3 vs. 7.4 ± 4.7 days (p = 0.001), mechanical ventilation time 11.7 ± 14.1 vs. 5.3 ± 2.8 days (p = 0.002) and mortality 45.2% vs. 3.2% (p <0.001, OR = 25, 95% CI = 5.1, 125). Conclusions: The factors of risk significantly presence of sepsis, hospital stay, mechanical ventilation time and mortality. And also the values of the PAFI.
