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A two year follow-up of infants with respiratory distress syndrome
Insights
Infants with idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome who received neonatal intensive care showed excellent long-term progress. Most children caught up developmentally and had minimal residual respiratory or neurological issues.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS) is a common neonatal condition requiring intensive care.
- Long-term outcomes for infants with IRDS are crucial for understanding developmental trajectories.
- Neonatal intensive care aims to improve survival and reduce long-term morbidities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the developmental progress of infants with IRDS after neonatal intensive care.
- To evaluate residual respiratory, ophthalmological, and neurological deficits in this cohort.
Main Methods:
- Follow-up examination of 47 infants (out of 74) with IRDS between 15-24 months of age.
- Assessment included physical growth (height, weight, head circumference), radiological lung examination, and neurological evaluation.
- Ophthalmological assessment was performed for infants with a history of apnoeic spells.
Main Results:
- All assessed children achieved age-appropriate height, weight, and head circumference.
- Only two infants showed residual lung changes on radiology despite 11 having prior respiratory issues.
- One infant experienced serious eye problems (retrolental fibroplasia) due to frequent apnoeic spells; one had a neurological deficit.
Conclusions:
- Infants with IRDS who receive intensive neonatal care demonstrate remarkable catch-up growth and development.
- Long-term sequelae, including respiratory and neurological deficits, are uncommon in this population.
- Early intensive care for IRDS is associated with positive long-term outcomes.
Abstract:
Forty-seven of 74 infants with idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome who had received intensive care in the neonatal period were examined between the ages of 15 and 24 months to assess their progress. All the children (including the premature infants) had caught up with their peers in height, weight and head circumference. Although 11 infants had a history of respiratory problems, only two showed residual lung changes on radiological examination. Only one infant who had frequent apnoeic spells had serious eye problems due to retrolental fibroplasia. A definite neurological deficit was found in one case, in which a congenital infection could not be ruled out.