TRANSIENT TACHYPNEA OF THE NEWBORN

Abstract

Transient tachypnea of the newborn is a mild breathing problem. It affects babies during the first hours of life. Tachypnea means fast breathing rate, and usually affects term newborns, more likely those delivered by C-section. The problem usually goes away without treatment in 3 days or less. Only a small number of all newborn babies get this breathing problem. Your baby's healthcare provider may use a chest X-ray to help diagnose the problem. On X-ray, the lungs look streaked and overinflated. The symptoms of this breathing problem may be similar to other more serious respiratory problems. These include lung infection (pneumonia) or premature lungs (respiratory distress syndrome). Often transient tachypnea of the newborn is diagnosed when symptoms go away in the first few hours to days of life. The Aim of this study was to evaluate and describe the frequency and course of perinatal and postnatal factors in neonates experiencing transient tachypnea during the first hours of life and to determine risk factors for complications of this condition.Methods: This was prospective opservational study during the period of six months in 2019, at the University Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics in Skopje. In the evaluation process were included newborn children born later than 34 gestational weeks, admitted to the Neonatal Department. The correlation between gestational age and need of oxygen support was determined, and the overall outcome of those newborns presented. If necessary, X-ray of lungs was performed.Results: In this study 2268 newborns were evaluated, born as late preterm (35th and 36th gestational age) and term newborns. None of the evaluated newborns was admitted to the Intensive Neonatal Care Unit. The C-section rate in the facility during this period for the evaluated newborns was 38,5%. Transient tachypnea was detected in 178 newborn babies, 65/178 were late preterm and 113/178 were term newborns. The proportion of preterm/term newborns was 246/2022. The accurate diagnosis has to be confirmed with X-ray in 30% of all of them presenting unclear signs of respiratory problems. The condition was resolved by its own in 83%, and the other have developed symptoms of more severe respiratory diseases, as respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants, congenital pneumonia, or respiratory condition of extra-pulmonary origin. Discussion: Transient tachypnea of the newborn occurs in approximately 1 in 100 preterm infants and 3.6-5.7 per 1000 term infants. It is most common in infants born by Cesarian section without a trial of labor after 35 weeks' gestation. It is self-limiting condition and the symptoms are resolved spontaneously, excluding some cases which could be complicated. The likelihood of complications is 1-2%.Conclusion: Transient tachypnea is very common cause of respiratory condition in neonates. Fortunately, the prognosis is very good, but when managing transient tachypnea of the newborn, it is imminent to observe for development of respiratory fatigue and signs of clinical deterioration that may suggest some other diagnoses.