Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Newborns
Alternate Names : RDS
What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?
During the first 72 hours after birth, babies with RDS have increasing trouble breathing. In addition, the amount of oxygen in their bloodstream decreases. Some infants stop breathing when they become too tired out from the effort of trying to force air into the collapsed alveoli. If this lasts for more than 20 seconds, it is called apnea. Other symptoms include:
flaring of the nostrils
a whining, moaning sound during breathing called grunting
retractions. This is a sinking in of muscles around the ribs and in the neck that occurs when considerable effort is needed to breathe.
breathing that is faster than normal
bluish skin color called cyanosis. This occurs when a person cannot get enough oxygen into the bloodstream. It can result from difficulty breathing.
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