Acute respiratory distress syndrome is severe inflammation of the baby’s lungs, causing difficulty breathing, rapid breathing or wheezing when breathing, for example.
Normally, the baby is born with a substance called surfactant, which allows the lungs to fill with air, however, in this syndrome the amount of surfactant is still not enough to allow good breathing and, therefore, the baby does not breathe properly. .
Thus, infant acute respiratory distress syndrome is more common in newborn babies less than 28 weeks of gestation, being detected by the doctor shortly after birth or within the first 24 hours. This syndrome has a cure, but the baby needs to be admitted to the hospital for appropriate treatment, with synthetic surfactant-based medications and the use of an oxygen mask, until the lungs are sufficiently developed. Understand what pulmonary surfactant is for.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of infant respiratory distress syndrome include:
- Bluish lips and fingers;
- Rapid breathing;
- Nostrils very open when inhaling;
- Wheezing in the chest when breathing;
- Rapid periods of respiratory arrest;
- Reduced amount of urine.
These symptoms indicate respiratory failure, that is, the baby is unable to breathe properly and capture oxygen for the body. Symptoms are most common shortly after birth, but can take up to 36 hours to appear, depending on the severity of the syndrome and the baby’s prematurity.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome is made by the pediatrician based on observation of the signs and symptoms presented by the newborn. Furthermore, to confirm the diagnosis, the doctor must recommend blood tests to assess blood oxygenation and X-rays of the lungs.
How the treatment is carried out
Treatment for infant respiratory distress syndrome must be started as soon as the symptoms are detected by the pediatrician and, generally, it is necessary for the baby to be admitted to an incubator and receive oxygen through a mask or through a device, called CPAP, which helps air entering the lungs for a few days or weeks until the lungs are sufficiently developed. Find out more about how this device works at: Nasal CPAP.
This syndrome can be avoided in some cases, as the obstetrician can recommend injections of corticosteroid medication to pregnant women who are at risk of having a premature birth, which can accelerate the development of the baby’s lungs.
Physiotherapy treatment
Physiotherapy, carried out by a specialized physiotherapist, can be very useful for treating babies with respiratory distress syndrome, as it uses techniques that can help open the airways, stimulate breathing muscles and facilitate the removal of secretions from the lungs. .
Therefore, physiotherapy is very important to reduce the symptoms of respiratory discomfort and its complications, such as lack of oxygen, lung injuries and brain damage.
