Transient Tachypnea of Newborn

Abstract

DESPITE recent attempts to distinguish the multiple causes of neonatal respiratory distress, there remains a group of infants in whom none of the previously described disorders can be shown to exist. Over the past three years we have encountered eight infants who have much in common and who, therefore, probably constitute a previously undescribed syndrome. All but one have been full-term infants in whom respiratory distress, characterized chiefly by tachypnea, has occurred at or near the time of birth and persisted for several days with subsequent complete clearing. Their clinical course and the radiographic findings help to distinguish them from other infants with pneumonia, aspiration, heart failure, and congenital malformations. Description of Patients In none of the cases was there evidence of maternal infection or hemorrhage. One of the mothers had toxemia of pregnancy; another, excessive weight gain. Only one of the eight infants was delivered by cesarean section. There