All you need to know about Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Introduction to Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is a common disorder among newborns and happens around 28 weeks before delivery. Doctors can identify it with some tests, and most babies survive this disorder. Heart, lung, and blood tests are common to diagnose this condition. Newborns with RDS require medical attention at home and can develop another lung condition called bronchopulmonary dysplasia during treatment of RDS. 

Risks Causing Respiratory Distress Syndrome

These are the reasons to get Respiratory Distress Syndrome: 

• Infection
• Sick baby during delivery 
• More than one birth
• Siblings with RDS
• Diabetic mother 
• C-Section delivery
• Hypothermia
• Stress
• Cold 

Symptoms of Respiratory Distress Syndrome

The symptoms of Respiratory Distress Syndrom include: 

• Grunting with each breath
• Shallow and fast breathing
• Bluish color change to lips or skin 
• Chest retractions
• Flaring nostrils with each breath

Diagnosis of Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Respiratory Distress Syndrome is common in newborns, and doctors conduct tests to identify it. These tests also show if there is any other form of respiratory disorder or breathing condition in a newborn. The diagnosis starts with a physical examination and can include the following tests: 

1. Blood tests to check for infections.
2. Heart tests to check for congenital heart defects.
3. Lung imaging tests to see how well the heart and lungs are working. 

Causes of Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Lungs that lack surfactant develop Respiratory Distress Syndrome. A fetus' lungs produce surfactant during the 3rd trimester, starting after pregnancy's 26th week. A foamy substance called surfactant helps a newborn breathe by keeping its lungs fully expanded. Lungs collapse without it, and breathing can become difficult without it. It can cause a newborn's organs not to receive enough oxygen. A full-term baby having RDS can have genetic reasons for developing RDS due to how their surfactant is produced. 

Treatment of Respiratory Distress Syndrome

A baby born early will have more chances to develop unpreventable RDS. Most babies before 28 weeks will develop RDS. Most newborns recover from this upon diagnosis. 

A few common treatments for Respiratory Distress Syndrome are: 

Nutrients and Fluids

Nutrients and fluids help promote growth and prevent malnutrition which can help in lung development. 

Mechanical Ventilation

Mechanical ventilation is required in severe Respiratory Distress Syndrome cases. A ventilator is a life-support mechanism that supports breathing. It connects to a breathing tube into the newborn's windpipe. 

Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (nCPAP) 

Prongs are placed in the nose, and the device gently provides breathing support by pushing air into the newborn's lungs. 

Surfactant Replacement Therapy

Surfactant replacement therapy is used when a newborn does not respond well to nCPAP. 

How to Know if Your Newborn is Recovering?

Your newborn will show the following signs, which mean that it is getting better: 

• Your newborn will breathe slowly and easier and look comfortable breathing. 
• Your newborn will require less oxygen than it did before 
• The settings will decrease or lower if you use the nCPAP or ventilator. Your newborn will not require these machines after a while as it improves.

Conclusion

Respiratory Distress Syndrome is treatable, and most babies recover from it. It happens to newborns before birth at around 28 weeks of pregnancy. While there can be many causes, the treatment is available to treat RDS effectively.

Request an appointment at Apollo Cradle, DELHI-NCR - Chirag Enclave. Call 1860-500-1066 to book an appointment.