INCIDENCE AND ETIOLOGY OF RESPIRATORY DISTRESS IN NEWBORN

Screening of 1986 consecutive live births was done for evidence of Respiratory Distress by administering Downe's scoring in a prospective study at level II nursery of a medical college. A detailed antenatal, natal and postnatal history along with detailed examination supported by relevant investigations was carried out to arrive at the etiological diagnosis of Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS).

48 newborns developed RDS during the observation period. The incidence of RDS was 2.42%. Out of these 40.4% were <1500g, 16.6% above 2500 g and the rest between 1500-2500 g. Preterm were thirty times more prone to develop RDS than full term neonates. There was no significant difference in incidence of RDS in male and female neonates. The commonest cause of RDS was hyaline membrane disease (HMD) 18.8% followed by transient tachyopnea of the newborn (TTNB) 14.5% and meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) 12.5%. HMD was predominantly seen in the preterm in the gestational age of 29 to 32 weeks, TTNB was seen equally in term as well as preterm neonates, where as MAS was common in the term than in the preterm neonates.