Respiratory failure in infants and other considerations

Respiratory failure in babies is a relatively serious and serious illness that can lead to high mortality. Therefore, learning about this pathology to prevent is a necessary thing that parents should do.

Usually, pregnancy will last about 40 weeks. During these 40 weeks, all of your baby's vital organs like brain, heart, liver, kidneys and lungs will form and develop. How this development plays out depends on many factors, but primarily the mother's health and the supply of nutrients to the baby during pregnancy.

If your baby is born before 40 weeks, the baby's organs may not be fully developed, which can lead to many dangerous complications that your baby may experience soon after birth.

What is neonatal respiratory distress syndrome?

Infant respiratory distress syndrome (also called endothelial disease) is a condition in which a baby's lungs are still not fully developed at birth, resulting in a lack of surfactant, which reduces the area of ​​the baby's lungs. alveolar surface area for gas exchange. Healthy lungs are of utmost importance to a newborn's survival. Children with respiratory failure may have difficulty breathing normally.

Causes of respiratory distress syndrome in infants

Preterm birth is one of the main causes of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Lungs of premature babies lack surfactants, which are essential for the expansion and contraction of the lungs. This deficiency can lead to shortness of breath and breathing problems. In addition, respiratory failure can also be due to genetic factors involved in the baby's lung development. In addition to preterm birth, there are a number of other factors that lead to neonatal respiratory distress syndrome such as:

Caesarean

The mother has diabetes

Your family has a history of respiratory failure

Multiple pregnancy

Perinatal damage: asphyxia and prenatal hemorrhage

The amount of blood supplied to the baby during pregnancy is reduced.

Symptoms of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome

Most of the symptoms of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome are detectable soon after the baby is born. However, symptoms may also appear 24 hours after birth. The common symptoms are:

Severe, sudden difficulty breathing, then rapid breathing is possible

The nose is bulging, and there is a groan when it is exhaled

Contraction of the chest and intercostal muscles, concave sternum

Body purple

Heart beat fast

Wheeze

Sweating a lot

These symptoms are similar to those of some other diseases and infections. If your baby has any of these symptoms, you should consult your doctor immediately to determine the cause and take the necessary corrective measures.

Without timely care, this can cause carbon dioxide in the blood to rise, causing harm to the baby.

Diagnosis of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome

To diagnose this condition, the doctor may recommend tests to see if this is caused by breathing problems or if the child has infections. Some of the following tests your doctor may recommend:

Observe your baby's appearance and breathing to see if something is wrong

Chest X-ray to check the lung condition

Blood gas test to check the concentration of oxygen, carbon dioxide in the blood and the presence of excess acid in body fluids

An echocardiogram can be done to see if your baby has any heart problems.

Complications of neonatal respiratory failure

Respiratory failure in a newborn can lead to dangerous complications that have long-term effects on a baby's normal development. In some cases, the condition can also be life-threatening if it is not treated promptly. In addition, there are a number of complications such as:

Blind

Septicemia

Blood clot formation in the body

Intellectual retardation

Accumulates air around the lungs and heart

Brain or lung bleeding

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Pneumonia

Severe respiratory failure can also lead to kidney failure and improper development of other organs. Depending on the condition of the disease, the complications that are encountered in each child will vary. Therefore, you should consult your doctor for the best treatment solution for the complications that your baby is facing.

Treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in infants

Symptoms of respiratory distress syndrome usually appear soon after the baby is born. Babies with respiratory distress often receive special care in incubators. If your baby has respiratory failure, timely treatment is very important because otherwise it can lead to dangerous complications because the baby's organs don't have enough oxygen to function. Here are a few ways to treat it:

1. Surfactant replacement therapy if the baby's lungs are deficient in surfactants

With this method, surfactant is introduced into the lungs through the endotracheal tract. Once done, your baby will be put on a ventilator to support breathing. Depending on your medical condition, your doctor will decide how often and when to perform this method. This therapy is most effective when it's done during the first six hours after birth.

2. Oxygen therapy

With this therapy, oxygen is transferred to the newborn's organs. In the absence of enough oxygen, vital organs may not function properly. Therefore, a ventilator will be used to control your baby's oxygen.

3. Breathe CPAP

Nasal CPAP breathing is a method of applying constant positive pressure to the airways, even when the child exhales. The aim is to maintain the opening of the alveoli that is prone to collapse and open the collapsed alveoli. During this treatment, a small mask will be placed on your baby's nose.

The doctor may decide to use medication to ease the pain that the child may be facing during treatment. Consult with your doctor to determine which treatment is right for your baby and how long it will take for your baby to recover.

Prevention of respiratory failure in infants

The main cause of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome is preterm birth. Therefore, to prevent respiratory failure, it is best to try to have a full term baby.

The risk of preterm birth can be reduced if you follow the best precautions along with maintaining good habits such as not drinking or smoking during pregnancy.

In case if you have to give birth early, your doctor may prescribe corticosteroid medication . This medication can cause your baby's lungs to develop faster and increase the baby's ability to produce surfactants.

Treating infant respiratory distress syndrome can be a challenge for parents as it requires constant monitoring and care for the baby. Ideally, you should consult your doctor about treatment as well as how to help your baby recover quickly.