Introduction
Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) happens when a newborn baby's lungs aren't fully developed and they can provide enough oxygen. It usually affects premature babies.
NRDS is also known as:
hyaline membrane disease
infant respiratory distress syndrome
newborn respiratory distress syndrome
surfactant deficiency lung disease (SDLD)
Despite having a similar name, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) isn't related. ARDS is caused by a serious underlying health condition and can affect people of any age.
Why it happens
NRDS most often occurs when there isn't enough surfactant in the lungs. This substance, made up of proteins and fats, helps keep the lungs inflated and prevents parts of the lung called air sacs collapsing.
A baby normally begins producing surfactant sometime between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy. Most babies produce enough surfactant to breathe normally by week 34. If your baby is born prematurely, they may not have enough surfactant in their lungs.
Occasionally, NRDS occurs in babies that aren't born prematurely. This is usually due to other risk factors, such as:
the mother having diabetes
the baby being underweight
poor lung development, which can be caused by a variety of illnesses
Problems with the genes can play a role in lung development, but this is very rare.
It's estimated that half of all babies born before 28 weeks of pregnancy will develop NRDS. However, this has reduced in recent years, as steroid injections can be given to mothers at risk of NRDS during premature labour.
Signs and symptoms
The signs of NRDS are often noticeable immediately after birth and get worse over the following few days. They can include:
blue-coloured lips, fingers and toes
rapid, shallow breathing
flaring nostrils
a grunting sound when breathing
As premature babies are usually born in hospital, most babies with NRDS are already in hospital when they develop these problems and receive treatment (see below).
If you give birth outside hospital and notice the above symptoms in your child, call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance.
Diagnosing NRDS
A number of tests can be used to look for the signs of NRDS and rule out other possible causes.
Introduction Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) happens when a newborn baby's lungs aren't fully developed and they can provide enough oxygen. It usually affects premature babies. NRDS is also known as: hyaline membrane diseaseinfant respiratory distress syndromenewborn respiratory distress syndromesurfactant deficiency lung disease (SDLD)Despite having a similar name, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) isn't related. ARDS is caused by a serious underlying health condition and can affect people of any age.Why it happensNRDS most often occurs when there isn't enough surfactant in the lungs. This substance, made up of proteins and fats, helps keep the lungs inflated and prevents parts of the lung called air sacs collapsing.A baby normally begins producing surfactant sometime between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy. Most babies produce enough surfactant to breathe normally by week 34. If your baby is born prematurely, they may not have enough surfactant in their lungs.Occasionally, NRDS occurs in babies that aren't born prematurely. This is usually due to other risk factors, such as:the mother having diabetesthe baby being underweightpoor lung development, which can be caused by a variety of illnessesProblems with the genes can play a role in lung development, but this is very rare.It's estimated that half of all babies born before 28 weeks of pregnancy will develop NRDS. However, this has reduced in recent years, as steroid injections can be given to mothers at risk of NRDS during premature labour.Signs and symptomsThe signs of NRDS are often noticeable immediately after birth and get worse over the following few days. They can include:blue-coloured lips, fingers and toesrapid, shallow breathingflaring nostrilsa grunting sound when breathingAs premature babies are usually born in hospital, most babies with NRDS are already in hospital when they develop these problems and receive treatment (see below).If you give birth outside hospital and notice the above symptoms in your child, call 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance.Diagnosing NRDSA number of tests can be used to look for the signs of NRDS and rule out other possible causes.
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