Management and Determining the Cause

Ensure a patent airway, adequate breathing, and perfusion.

• Oxygenation: If SpO₂ is <90-92%, provide supplemental oxygen (e.g., nasal cannula, CPAP if needed).

3. Supportive Care

• Fluids/Nutrition: Tachypnea can impair feeding; consider IV fluids or NG feeds.
• Temperature Regulation: Keep infant normothermic.
• Monitor for Respiratory Fatigue like nasal flaring, grunting, retractions, cyanosis, or apnea.: If worsening, prepare for mechanical ventilation.

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2. Identify and Treat the Underlying Cause

Common causes and their management:

Cause	Clinical Features	Management
Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn (TTN)	Usually in term/near-term infants, resolves in 24-72 hours	Supportive: Oxygen if needed, monitor feeding, fluids
Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS)	Premature infant, surfactant deficiency, grunting, retractions	Oxygen, CPAP, surfactant therapy if severe
Pneumonia/Sepsis	Fever, poor feeding, lethargy, grunting	IV antibiotics, supportive care
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome	Post-term, meconium-stained fluid, coarse breath sounds	Oxygen, ventilation, surfactant if needed
Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)	Cyanosis, murmur, poor pulses	Echocardiogram, prostaglandin E1 for duct-dependent lesions
Metabolic Acidosis (e.g., DKA, inborn errors of metabolism)	Lethargy, vomiting, dehydration	Correct underlying metabolic disturbance (fluids, insulin for DKA)
Anemia	Pallor, tachycardia	Treat cause (iron, transfusion if severe)

 

 

 

 

 

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