Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Infants
Neonatal respiratory distress occurs in premature infants who have not yet produced adequate amounts of surfactant. The condition causes difficultly breathing in newborns. Surfactant is a substance that coats the lungs and alveoli, and facilitates the exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide. Without enough surfactant, the lungs collapse and the infant has to work very hard to breathe. Respiratory distress syndrome is a serious condition and should be treated immediately in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
The best way to prevent neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is to prevent preterm birth. If this cannot be prevented, corticosteroids have been shown to lower the risk and severity of respiratory distress syndrome in infants. If the mother is at risk of preterm labor, corticosteroids are typically administered between 24 and 34 weeks gestation.
Symptoms of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome include labored breathing; grunting; wheezing; flared nostrils, decreased urine output; bluish skin color; chest retractions; and shallow, rapid breathing. These symptoms are usually present at birth, or shortly thereafter. As soon as neonatal respiratory distress is identified, immediate medical care by neonatal intensive care specialists is required. Newborns with respiratory distress syndrome are cared for in a NICU, or neonatal intensive care unit.
Treatment for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome will be decided by the infant’s team of neonatal specialists and is based on the following factors:
- The infant’s gestational age
- The infant’s overall health and medical history
- The severity of the respiratory distress
- The doctor’s expectations for the prognosis
- The infant’s tolerance for certain therapies and procedures
Some treatment options for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome may include the following:
- Putting the infant on a mechanical breathing machine, which assists with breathing. This may include a continuous positive airway pressure device, or CPAP. This device gently pushes a continuous flow of oxygen into the infant’s lungs.
- Artificial surfactant therapy. This involves administering an artificial surfactant to the newborn until he or she can produce enough natural surfactant on his or her own. This type of medication is administered through a breathing tube, and is usually given in several doses.
To learn more about Respiratory Distress Syndrome, feel free to visit Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome.
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