Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Prematurity-Related Conditions
Number of Conditions: 2
Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)
Specialty: Pediatrics
Category: Neonatal Conditions (Newborns)
Sub-category: Prematurity-Related Conditions
Symptoms:
rapid breathing (tachypnea); grunting; flaring nostrils; blue tint to the skin (cyanosis); poor feeding; low oxygen levels; difficulty breathing
Root Cause:
Insufficient production of surfactant, a substance that keeps the alveoli in the lungs open, causing lung collapse and impaired oxygen exchange.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical presentation in a preterm infant, chest X-ray showing "ground-glass" appearance, blood gas analysis showing low oxygen levels, and prenatal history of prematurity.
Treatment:
Administration of exogenous surfactant, oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Supportive care, including fluid management and temperature regulation.
Medications:
Exogenous surfactants such as beractant or poractant alfa (classified as surfactant replacement therapy). Steroids like dexamethasone or betamethasone may be administered to the mother before delivery to enhance fetal lung maturity.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 60% of infants born at less than 28 weeks gestation, decreasing to less than 5% in infants born after 34 weeks gestation.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Premature birth, male sex, cesarean delivery without labor, maternal diabetes, and multiple births (e.g., twins).
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With timely treatment, most infants recover without long-term complications. Severe cases may lead to chronic lung disease (e.g., bronchopulmonary dysplasia).
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic lung disease (bronchopulmonary dysplasia), air leaks (pneumothorax), infections, and delayed neurodevelopment.
Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)
Specialty: Pediatrics
Category: Neonatal Conditions (Newborns)
Sub-category: Prematurity-Related Conditions
Symptoms:
persistent need for oxygen; difficulty breathing; poor growth; recurrent respiratory infections; wheezing; retractions (use of chest muscles to breathe)
Root Cause:
Lung injury caused by mechanical ventilation, oxygen therapy, and inflammation in preterm infants with immature lungs.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis is based on the need for supplemental oxygen at 28 days postnatal age and/or at 36 weeks postmenstrual age, along with clinical and radiographic findings.
Treatment:
Oxygen therapy, noninvasive or mechanical ventilation, diuretics to manage fluid buildup, nutritional support, and pulmonary rehabilitation.
Medications:
Bronchodilators (e.g., albuterol ) to ease breathing, diuretics (e.g., furosemide ) to reduce fluid in the lungs, corticosteroids (e.g., dexamethasone ) to reduce inflammation, and antibiotics for preventing or treating infections.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 10–30% of infants born at less than 28 weeks gestation.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Prematurity, mechanical ventilation, oxygen therapy, maternal infections, and intrauterine growth restriction.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Most children improve with age, but some may have long-term respiratory issues such as asthma or reduced lung function.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Pulmonary hypertension, recurrent infections, developmental delays, and poor growth.