Clinical Profile of Respiratory Distress in Newborn

Introduction: Pulmonary disorders represent one of the most common diagnoses in infants admitted to neonatal units. The clinical presentation of respiratory distress in the new born includes apnea, cyanosis, grunting, inspiratory stridor, nasal flaring, poor feeding, and tachypnea. Most cases are caused by transient tachypnea of the newborn, respiratory distress syndrome, or meconium aspiration syndrome, but various other causes are possible. Objectives: Study was performed to analyze clinical profile, risk factors and outcome in terms of mortality. Methods: Data was collected for 78 newborns included in the study with respiratory distress. General information, socioeconomic status, history and clinical examination were documented. Newborn with respiratory distress were shifted to NICU for further management. Time of onset of distress was documented and the severity of the distress was documented and the severity was assessed by using Silverman and Anderson clinical scoring. Duration of O2 therapy, intervention done in the form of surgical/ventilator/surfactant therapy/treatment and mortality was documented to assess the clinical outcome against the final diagnosis. Results: It was seen that in 97.4% of the cases of newborn respiratory distress the cause was respiratory in origin. Majority of the newborns had severe respiratory distress (47.43%) and moderate respiratory distress (46.15%) compared to mild distress (6.4%). 100% of newborns with RDS was diagnosed with severe respiratory distress (5 out of 5) and 73.9% was with diagnosis of MAS (17 out of 23) had developed severe respiratory distress as compared to 29.8% of the neonates with respiratory distress with diagnosis of TTNB (14 out of 47). 55.5% of the newborns (30 out of 54) male babies developed severe respiratory distress compared to 33.3% (8 out of 24) female babies. Interpretation and Conclusions: Transient tachypnea of the newborn is the most common cause of respiratory distress in newborn. Almost 50% of newborn with respiratory distress develop severe respiratory distress which require intensive monitoring. Risk factors like high maternal age, primigravida mothers, Small for gestation age, birth weight less than 2.5Kg associated with severe respiratory distress in newborns.