a respiratory disease of newborns, especially premature babies

A condition that occurs when a baby is born early with underdeveloped lungs.

a condition that affects the lungs of preterm infants. This is caused by lack of surfactant. Also referred to as hyaline membrane disease. More Info

A breathing disorder in premature babies caused by a baby's immature lungs and inability to produce surfactant.

Common in premature infants, RDS means a baby can't take in enough oxygen because his or her lungs aren't yet fully developed. With proper treatment, about 80 percent of babies recover fully.

Condition in newborn children resulting from an inability to expand pulmonary alveoli effectively. It is due to a lack of surfactant, which only appears well on in pregnancy; hence premature children are prone to the problem.

Babies born before 34 weeks of pregnancy often develop this serious breathing problem. Babies with RDS lack a chemical mixture called surfactant, which keeps the small air sacs in the lungs from collapsing. Treatment with surfactant helps affected babies breathe more easily. Babies with RDS also may receive a treatment called C-PAP (continuous positive airway pressure). The air may be delivered through small tubes in the baby's nose, or through a tube that has been inserted into his windpipe. As with surfactant treatment, C-PAP helps keep small air sacs from collapsing. C-PAP helps the baby breathe, but does not breathe for him. The sickest babies may temporarily need the help of a ventilator to breathe for them while their lungs recover. For more information about the history of surfactant, read "Bubbles, Babies, and Biology: The Story of Surfactant," published by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this report. To download a free copy of Acrobat Reader, click here. To download the article, click here.

Same as hyaline membrane disease.

an acute lung disease of the newborn (especially the premature newborn); lungs cannot expand because of a wetting agent is lacking; characterized by rapid shallow breathing and cyanosis and the formation of a glassy hyaline membrane over the alveoli

Life-threatening respiratory failure in which the lungs do not expand at birth; formerly known as hyaline membrane disease.

A condition of some babies in which the lungs are not completely mature.

(RDS, hyaline membrane disease): Respiratory distress that is caused by a lack of surfactant.

A medical condition wherein newborn babies have trouble breathing because their lungs have not matured sufficiently in the womb.

A condition most often seen in premature infants. The tiny air sacs of the lungs collapse as the baby breathes out. The baby is not able to breathe well without medical support.

Surfactant deficiency and immature lung development leading to impaired lung function

a condition (formerly known as hyaline membrane disease) in newborns that causes the child to have difficulty breathing. It is caused by an insufficient supply of a chemical called surfactant that helps expand the small air sacs in the lungs.

A condition in a newborn that causes breathing difficulties. It is a result of an insufficient supply of a chemical called surfactant that helps expand the small air sacs in the lungs.

A condition experienced after an illness or injury damages the lungs, causing severe breathing difficulty and resulting in a life-threatening lack of oxygen in the blood.

hyaline membrane disease characterized by a deficiency in surfactant in alveoli of the lung.

A lung disease that occurs primarily in premature infants; the newborn must struggle for each breath and blueing of its skin reflects the baby's inability to get enough oxygen.

This condition is common in premature babies - the air sacs in the lungs collapse due to lack of an essential substance called surfactant. Most babies recover when given increased oxygen, but some need more aggressive therapy.

A lung condition characterized by severe respiratory insufficiency/failure associated with pulmonary infiltrates chest x-ray, impaired oxygen absorption, and the absence of elevated pulmonary arterial hypertension. The condition can occur in children and adults (ARDS) and can arise from a variety of pulmonary and other insults. A similar disease called hyaline membrane disease also occur in premature infants born before the lungs have matured to the point where they are able to produce adequate amounts of surfactant to prevent lung collapse. In all forms, severe breathlessness is characteristic and rapidly decompensates to respiratory failure with hypoxemia and cyanosis requiring mechanical ventilation for survival.

A lack of surfactant in underdeveloped lungs can result in this syndrome.

A condition of some premature babies in which the lungs are not fully developed, requiring intensive medical care.

RDS or Respiratory Distress Syndrome is a condition that most commonly occurs in premature newborns, babies with diabetic mothers and babies born by cesarean. This happens when a baby has difficulty breathing and can't take in enough air, because his or her lungs aren't fully developed.