ARDS dai na nufin matsananciyar wahala ta numfashi, wanda wata cuta ce da ke shafar huhu da kuma wahalar numfashi. Yana da mummunan nau'i na raunin huhu wanda zai iya haifar da abubuwa daban-daban, kamar ciwon huhu, sepsis, rauni, ko shakar abubuwa masu cutarwa. Yanayin yana da kumburi a cikin huhu, lalacewa ga alveoli (kananan jakar iska a cikin huhu), da tarin ruwa a cikin huhu. Alamomin ARDS sun haɗa da ƙarancin numfashi, saurin numfashi, ciwon ƙirji, da launin shuɗi ga fata. ARDS wani yanayi ne mai tsanani kuma mai yuwuwar yin barazana ga rayuwa wanda ke buƙatar kulawar gaggawa.