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Respiratory distress syndrome in common parlance means difficulty in breathing. It can affect both infants and adults. It is called neonatal respiratory syndrome in babies. It develops in new born or premature babies when production of surfactant in the lungs decreases or when the lungs are not fully developed. This problem arises due to protein deficiency. The fluids get accumulated in the lungs and the patient finds difficulty in breathing. If the problem is severe, the damage could be permanent and irreparable and the patient could die because oxygen cannot reach the lungs in the required quantity. In case of slight problem, it could be cured.
Neonatal respiratory syndrome can be avoided if the mother who delivers prematurely is treated with Glucocorticoids, which help in quickening the production of surfactant in the mother. The baby is given saline to ensure that the level of blood sugar, blood salt and the blood pressure is maintained. Oxygen is supplied in small quantities. If the problem still persists, then a breathing tube is inserted into the baby's trachea. The mortality rate is very high amongst infants suffering from this syndrome. The chances of developing respiratory distress syndrome are more in babies if the mother is suffering from diabetes, in case of twin babies and in case of mother delivering the baby after 35 years of age.
In grownups respiratory distress syndrome can be due to:
- A few particles of stomach can travel to lungs.
- If the patient has fractures or head injury or lung congestion
- If the patient has contacted any one of the pneumonias, viral, bacterial, or fungal pneumonia.
- If the patient had to take blood transfusion for any reason or due to reaction or overdose of some drugs.
- If the patient has inhaled poisonous chemical.
- If the patient has swallowed water due to drowning and there is water accumulation in the lung.
Due to kidney malfunction, the patient may not be able to urinate and discharge the accumulated fluid. This will cause the lungs to swell and the air path is narrowed. This leads to oxygen deficiency in the lungs. In the beginning, in the Adult respiratory distress syndrome, the patient begins to take and short shallow breaths. The patient starts taking quick breaths and lungs feel lack of oxygen. Since the breathing is not flawless and effortless, the patient feels exhausted.
When adult respiratory distress syndrome continues for a long time, it can result in an acute shortage of oxygen which can lead to low blood pressure, quantity of urine is decreased, or heart attack which can be fatal. Several tests like the Arterial blood gas test, pulmonary artery catheterization and chest X-rays are used in diagnosing of the respiratory syndrome. The doctor may prescribe antibiotics. If the respiratory syndrome persists, then the doctor tries to rectify the oxygen supply in the lungs by giving the patient humidified oxygen by a tight-fitting mask. In more serious cases, the patient may have to be put on ventilator.
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