Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Written by Darshana Srivatsan

Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) is a condition commonly seen in premature infants. It occurs when the baby's lungs aren't fully developed and lack a substance called surfactant, which helps keep the air sacs in the lungs open. Without enough surfactant, the lungs can collapse, making it hard for the baby to breathe. It mostly occurs in premature babies, which affects their body parts such as their lungs because they have not yet developed it. This Affects the baby because their body parts such as their lungs have not fully been developed. Premature birth is the primary cause since the lungs and surfactant production are among the last systems to mature in the womb. This is one of the causes of premature babies. RDS is most seen in premature infants, particularly those born before 34 weeks of gestation. The earlier a baby is born, the higher the risk of developing RDS. This is because surfactant production typically begins around the 24th week of pregnancy and increases significantly between the 32nd and 34th weeks. Babies born before this period may not have enough surfactant to support effective lung function. When babies are born earlier this causes them to not have developed or it is likely possible for babies to have not fully developed their body parts.

References

National Center for Biotechnology Information. "Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome." NCBI Bookshelf, National Center for Biotechnology Information, URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560779/#:~:text=Neonatal%20respir atory%20distress%20syndrome%20(RDS,thereby%20directly%20contributing %20to%20RDS.

Written by Darshana Srivatsan from MEDILOQUY