A 3 day old preterm neonate with breathing difficulty from birth was admitted in the NICU. A chest X ray was done which is shown below. Which of the following disorders is the neonate apparently suffering from?
Respiratory distress syndrome
Neonatal pneumonia
Transient tachypnea of the newborn
None of these
Ans. A. Respiratory Distress SyndromeThis chest X ray above reveals a picture consistent with diffuse reticulo granular opacities in both lung fields. Air bronchogram can also be seen. This chest x ray is typical of respiratory distress syndrome (hyaline membrane disease). Chest X ray in neonatal pneumonia can be non-specific revealing infiltrates, consolidations, and sometimes even pleural effusion(s). Transient tachypnea of the newborn is a benign disorder in which the chest X ray classically shows increased vascular markings and fluid in the interlobar fissures.
New Born Infants