Answer
IRDS - Infantile respiratory distress
syndrome
- In premature babies, lungs are not fully developed.
- The lungs (aveolar type II cells) in premature
babies cannot secrete pulmonary surfactant.
- Pulmonary surfactants helps in keeping the alveoli intact. It
prevents collapsing of the alveoli.
- Due to lack of surfactant, the lungs cannot expand
much.
- Sufficient quantity of air cannot enter the lungs needed for
gaseous exchange.
- Number of respiratry symptoms that arise due to lack of
adequate breathing are :
- Rapid respiratory rate
- Laboured breathing
- Hypoxemia
- Flarring of alae nasi.
- If left untreated, complications such as metabolic disorders,
hypotention and brain injury might result.
- This condition can also lead to death of the
newborn.
In this way, IRDS affects the infant respiratory system.