ICD-11

A condition characterised by developmental insufficiency of surfactant associated proteins or surfactant production and structural immaturity in the lungs.

Respiratory distress of newborn is a condition of the newborn marked by dyspnoea with cyanosis, which can also show dilatation of the alae nasi, expiratory grunt, and retraction of the supresternal notch or costal margins. The disease is frequently occurred to premature infants, children of diabetic mothers, and infants delievered by ceasarean section, and sometimes with no apparent predisposing cause. Pneumonia, delayed adaptation, meconium aspiration syndrome, respiratory distress syndrome and apnea are common causes of the disease.

Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is an acute illness, usually of preterm infants, due to pulmonary surfactant deficiency, developing within 4-6 hours of birth, and is characterised by respiratory distress (tachypnoea, intercostal and sternal retractions, expiratory grunt, and cyanosis) with abnormal chest radiograph showing diffuse reticulogranular densities and air bronchograms, evidence of reduced lung compliance and functional residual capacity, evidence of abnormal gas exchange (hypoxaemia, hypercapnia, cyanosis) of sufficient severity to require oxygen and/or continuous or intermittent positive pressure ventilatory support for more than 24 hours.