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Incidence of respiratory distress syndrome.

OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in hospital born babies.


DESIGN
A prospective study.


PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY
The study was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at the Pediatric department, in collaboration with the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, over a period of one year from January to December 2000.


SUBJECTS AND METHODS
All live born infants delivered at the hospital and who fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were included in the study.


RESULTS
Ninety-four neonates developed RDS. Out of these, 88 (93.61%) were preterm and 06 (6.38%) were term infants. There was a male preponderance (65.95%). RDS was documented in 1.72% of total live births, 37.28% of preterm and 0.11% of term neonates born at the hospital. The incidence of RDS was 100% at 26 or less weeks of gestation, 57.14% at 32 weeks, and 3.70% at 36 weeks. The mortality with RDS was 41 (43.61%).


CONCLUSION
RDS is the commonest cause of respiratory distress in the newborn, particularly, in preterm infants. It carries a high mortality rate and the incidence is more than that documented in the Western world.