Respiratory distress is a common presenting feature of the newborn, and depending on the age at which the baby is born, the diagnosis and treatment of newborn babies can vary greatly. A prompt diagnosis is important, so that goal directed investigations can be initiated, and the most appropriate management be implemented to improve the clinical outcomes of your baby.

Common causes of neonatal respiratory distress

This depends on the age at which the baby is born A preterm infant is defined as one who is born before 37 weeks. The earlier the baby is born, the more likely the baby will have breathing issues, and the longer the baby will be in a neonatal intensive care unit to support the lungs. It is important though, that many babies can be born with other lung, heart conditions, neurological or abdominal conditions, that may impact on his/her capacity to adapt to the extra-uterine environment.

Some examples of breathing problems:

• 1. Transient tachypnoea of the newborn
• 2. Respiratory distress syndrome or hyaline membrane disease
• 3. Pneumonia
• 4. Meconium aspiration
• 5. Congenital pulmonary airway malformations
• 6. Congenital cardiac disease
• 7. Metabolic disease

The above represent but a few of an entire spectrum of diseases that present at birth, and which can result in a prolonged hospital stay.

It is imperative especially for babies who are on a ventilator for a long time to evaluate all the possibilities of what the underlying disease is, to implement adequate and effective therapies early to improve the outcome of the babies, and allow for early discharge from hospital.